The Los Angeles Lakers might not be able to meet the Utah Jazz’s asking price for Walker Kessler.
The Athletic’s Jovan Buha said in a Monday livestream (31:30 mark) that he’s “heard nothing but” the Jazz wanting two first-round picks and a young player for Kessler.
The Lakers have only one tradable first-round pick over the next seven years, and that selection can only come in 2031 or 2032, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
The franchise already owes the Jazz a first-round pick in 2027, although that selection is top-four protected, and previously sent an unprotected 2029 first to the Dallas Mavericks, Marks reported.
What the Lakers have left to offer are first-round pick swaps in 2026, 2028, 2030, 2031 or 2032, or a 2031 second-round pick trade, according to Marks.
“The Lakers cannot do that trade,” Buha said about the Jazz’s asking price for Kessler. “They can do one pick, and one young player, and a swap. You could do a couple swaps. I probably would try to hold off on the later swaps, but throw in three swaps, or take away the protections on the top pick in 2027.”
Buha added that if the Jazz decide to lower their asking price for Kessler, he feels “maybe there’s a way” but is “skeptical” the Lakers could put together a potential trade involving Dalton Knecht, either the 2031 or 2032 first-rounder, and the removal of top-four protection from the Jazz’s 2027 first-round pick.
This reportedly isn’t the first time Jazz CEO Danny Ainge’s asking price has gotten in the way of a potential deal to bring Kessler to the Lakers. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin recently reported that the Lakers had pursued Kessler during the 2024-25 season, found his price “was too steep,” and pivoted to attempt to acquire Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets instead.
The Lakers have been looking for a new starting center this offseason, and multiple high-profile free agents and trade targets are off the board now that Myles Turner is joining the Milwaukee Bucks and Brook Lopez is headed to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Kessler is coming off of his first season as a full-time starter for the Jazz, during which he averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game while making more than 65 percent of his shots from the field for the third straight season.
He is also set to play next season under a $4.9 million club option before hitting restricted free agency next summer, making him an affordable option for a team sitting about $6 million under the tax threshold, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
If Ainge can’t find someone to match his asking price this offseason, Kessler is a candidate for a trade deadline move if the Jazz decide to try and cash in on his expiring contract.