Lakers Continue to Monitor Jazz Center Walker Kessler as Potential Answer at Center, with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin Revealing He “Remains a Name They’re Intrigued By” Despite Past Trade Hurdles

The Los Angeles Lakers remain one of the most storied franchises in professional sports, always in the thick of trade rumors and player speculation during the offseason. As the team looks to retool its roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis in what could be the final chapter of their championship window together, a glaring need remains unaddressed—depth at the center position. With Jaxson Hayes struggling to make an impact and the team opting not to retain Mo Bamba after last season’s playoff run, it is clear that the Lakers are in search of a big man who can protect the rim, rebound effectively, and complement Davis when he shifts to his preferred position at power forward. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, that search may once again be circling back to Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler, a player the Lakers remain intrigued by.

Speaking on a recent podcast appearance, McMenamin detailed the Lakers’ continued interest in Kessler, who has emerged as one of the league’s most promising young defensive bigs. “The only thing on that front… is that Walker Kessler remains a name the Lakers are intrigued by,” McMenamin said. “Whether that will lead to any sort of deal, obviously last year, the asking price was too steep and, obviously, the Lakers ended up pivoting those assets that they were considering moving to the Jazz to get Kessler in order to do the Luka \[Doncic] trade. That came off the table after the Luka trade. If they do revisit it, that remains a player that the Lakers feel could fit the void that they have at center. I’m not reporting anything’s moving towards \[a deal] or picking up steam or anything like that, but Kessler remains on the Lakers radar.”

Kessler, standing 7 feet tall with a 7’4″ wingspan, has already made a name for himself with elite shot-blocking instincts, strong rebounding, and an ability to anchor a defense in the paint. As a rookie, he finished among the league leaders in blocks per game and proved capable of guarding multiple actions in pick-and-roll sets. That sort of defensive prowess is precisely what the Lakers have lacked in recent years, particularly when Davis has needed rest or has been sidelined due to injury. While Davis is still among the league’s best interior defenders, asking him to shoulder the entire burden inside for 82 games plus a postseason run is a risky proposition, and having a player like Kessler to spell him—or play alongside him—would greatly increase the Lakers’ frontcourt flexibility.

From Utah’s perspective, trading Kessler is not a straightforward decision. He is still on a rookie contract and is considered part of the Jazz’s core group of young talent that includes Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, and possibly Lauri Markkanen, if he remains in Utah amid his own trade rumors. The Jazz are in a rebuilding phase but have been cautious not to give away young talent unless the return aligns with their long-term vision. Last season, reports suggested Utah’s asking price for Kessler included multiple first-round picks, which the Lakers balked at. Instead, the Lakers directed their trade assets toward attempting to build a package for Luka Doncic, though that dream quickly evaporated as Dallas reasserted its commitment to Doncic by building around him.

The possibility of revisiting Kessler as a target could be more viable now, depending on the Jazz’s willingness to negotiate a more reasonable deal and the Lakers’ current stockpile of tradeable contracts and draft capital. The Lakers possess a mix of expiring contracts and future picks, including their 2029 first-round pick, which has been frequently mentioned in trade talks. The question is whether that would be enough to persuade Utah to part with a 22-year-old center who already looks like a foundational defensive piece.

The Lakers’ front office, led by Rob Pelinka, has made it clear that they intend to be aggressive this offseason. With LeBron James entering the twilight of his career and still playing at an elite level, the Lakers are in win-now mode. That urgency may push them toward securing a big who fits their system and timeline. Kessler’s appeal lies in his age, his contract, and his skill set—all of which align well with both short-term and long-term goals. He wouldn’t require touches on offense to be effective, and his ability to cover up perimeter mistakes with his shot-blocking would be a welcome addition to a team that has had stretches of poor perimeter defense.

Defensively, Kessler has the tools to be a top-five rim protector in the NBA. His instincts, timing, and willingness to contest everything at the rim make him a deterrent against attacking guards and slashing wings. Offensively, he’s still developing, but he is already capable of finishing lobs, setting solid screens, and grabbing offensive rebounds. His presence would open up more room for Davis to operate in the mid-post and give LeBron a reliable vertical threat on pick-and-rolls.

While McMenamin cautioned that no deal is currently gaining traction, the fact that Kessler’s name remains consistently linked to the Lakers is telling. In the NBA, persistent interest often leads to eventual deals, particularly when the needs are clearly defined and the fit is so logical. The Lakers’ interest in Kessler also signals that they may not be satisfied with internal development from their younger bigs, and that veteran stopgaps like Dwight Howard or DeAndre Jordan—used in prior years—are not the path forward for a team seeking championship contention.

Timing, as always, will be crucial. The Lakers may wait to see how the rest of free agency shakes out before committing to any trades, especially if other targets become available or if the draft allows them to move up or acquire another asset. Still, Walker Kessler remains one of the few young, affordable bigs on the market who fits their exact profile of need.

If a trade were to materialize, the Lakers would likely have to part with one of their young guards—such as Max Christie or Jalen Hood-Schifino—along with a first-round pick and potentially a veteran salary to make the numbers work. Whether Pelinka is willing to pay that price, and whether Danny Ainge and the Jazz front office believe it to be enough, will be a key storyline in the coming weeks.

The Lakers have rarely hesitated to pursue bold moves when the opportunity arises. Their acquisition of Anthony Davis in 2019 set a precedent for leveraging young talent and draft capital in exchange for immediate impact. Though Kessler is not on the same level of stardom as Davis or even other stars the Lakers have pursued over the years, his fit could be just as vital in terms of roster construction. Sometimes, it’s the role players who elevate a good team into a championship-caliber one, and Kessler has the potential to be that kind of piece.

In the larger context of the Western Conference, where teams like Denver, Minnesota, and Oklahoma City boast size and athleticism in the frontcourt, adding a legitimate 7-footer who can hold his own defensively may be necessary for any deep playoff push. The Lakers, with their aging stars and limited financial flexibility, must be strategic in how they upgrade. Targeting a player like Kessler—who won’t command a max salary and still has years of development ahead—might be one of the few paths left to significantly improve without gutting the core of the roster.

While Lakers fans may be clamoring for bigger names or flashier acquisitions, securing a player like Walker Kessler could be one of the most practical and impactful decisions the team makes this summer. It remains to be seen whether talks will heat up or if this interest will fizzle out like it did last year. But if the Lakers are serious about competing for a title in 2025, addressing their center void with a defensive-minded, high-motor, rim-protecting big like Kessler may prove to be a critical step forward. The intrigue is there. The fit is undeniable. Now it’s just a matter of whether the Lakers can find the right deal to bring Kessler to Los Angeles.