Going into this offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers knew they could not afford to take any half measures in terms of building an adequate roster around Luka Doncic. The Lakers knew they needed a center, in particular, and their plan was to aggressively pursue restricted free agent center Walker Kessler.
Historically, restricted free agency does not result in a player switching teams, but L.A. was willing to offer up all their available draft capital to acquire Kessler from the Utah Jazz. Now that the move is officially and Kessler has worked out with his new team in Las Vegas, the Auburn product posted a hype video to showcase he is ready to play for the Lakers:
Walker just dropped another video.
“LA fans, I’m here man 💜💛” pic.twitter.com/bYWfsvMDGW
— Showtime Luka (@showtimeluka) July 24, 2026
In the video, the big man works out and shows off a potential jump shot. Playing alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, Kessler will be a high-usage center and he appears to be preparing to add a 3-ball to his game.
Last season, granted it was a small sample size, he shot 75% from 3-point range. Last time Los Angeles had a stretch big was Marc Gasol during the 2020-2021 season. If Kessler can add a reliable jumper on top of already being an elite presence around the rim, L.A.’s offense may elevate to another level.
The Lakers clearly believe Kessler is that long-term fit at center with a four-year, $130 million contract. This season marks a new era of basketball for the purple and gold, which features some intriguing younger talent around their Slovenian star.
Austin Reaves happy to have Walker Kessler on Lakers
Another important piece of business for the Lakers this summer was re-signing Austin Reaves and they ultimately came to terms on a four-year, $184 million contract. They now have their backcourt duo solidified for at least a few years together and build a championship around them.
It made plenty of sense to invest in the center position given how much Reaves and Doncic love to have a lob threat around them. For who was available, Kessler was at the top of the list and he certainly elevates the Lakers’ ceiling.
When reflecting on the flurry of moves, Reaves pointed out the acquisition of Kessler and he’s happy to have him on the team:
“He’s a big, goofy dude that just enjoys life and has fun,” Reaves said during a media availability. “Obviously you see what he does basketball-wise, how he impacts the game. He’s good defensively, good in the pocket and just a smart player. Happy to have him on the team and get to work.”
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