The Los Angeles Lakers have been consistently rebuffed by the Utah Jazz in their attempts to acquire 23-year-old center Walker Kessler, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“They’ve tried to get Walker Kessler many times, but they haven’t been able to meet that steep price,” Charania said on “NBA Countdown” before the Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 118-108 on Saturday, January 25. “I’m sure they will keep trying.”
Hoops Tonight’s Jason Timpf has proposed a trade that includes Collin Sexton, the eighth overall pick in 2018, as a way to meet Anthony Davis’ desire to play alongside a center.
Los Angeles Lakers receive: Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton
Utah Jazz receive: Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, removal of top-4 protection on 2027 first-round pick, lightly protected first-round pick (2029 or 2031)
Timpf also mentioned that the Lakers might include one of their two available second-round picks if negotiations become more difficult.
It’s important to note that Timpf suggested the Lakers offer to remove the top-4 protection on the 2027 first-round pick they gave the Jazz as part of the deal that also sent Russell Westbrook to Utah in 2023.
Will this offer convince Jazz CEO Danny Ainge to part with the rising center? Adding Sexton, a former lottery pick, into the mix could push Ainge to demand the Lakers’ other first-round pick as well.
Jazz Demand 2 First-Round Picks
In December, Michael Scotto of Hoopshype reported that the Jazz’s asking price for Kessler is at least two first-round picks.
“Teams checking on Kessler’s availability in Utah have gotten the sense that it’ll take at least two first-round picks to get him from the Jazz, a high asking price,” Scotto wrote at the time.
Ainge’s stance is understandable, given Kessler’s impressive numbers: 11.3 points on 73.3% shooting, 11.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 1.3 assists—career highs for the young center. He ranks seventh in rebounding and second in blocked shots per game.
Kessler, who stands 7 feet tall, was the 22nd overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and was acquired by the Jazz from the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Rudy Gobert trade.
Jarred Vanderbilt: A Negative Asset
A complicating factor in Timpf’s trade proposal is that Vanderbilt is seen as a negative asset across the league.
“For the Lakers to include Vanderbilt, they would likely need to attach a first-round pick,” Buha said on his podcast “Buha’s Block” on January 20. “He has three years left on his deal and is offensively limited, having dealt with injuries. Many see that as a very negative contract, which makes this a tricky situation.”
Any team willing to take on Vanderbilt’s remaining contract would owe him around $37 million over the next three years.
However, the Lakers remain hopeful that Vanderbilt can either become a valuable trade chip or contribute positively to the current roster. He showed promise in his return from a year-long layoff due to a foot injury.
Vanderbilt was solid in his limited action during the Lakers’ 118-108 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, January 25, marking the beginning of their six-game road trip.
He finished with two points, four rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 12 minutes of play, providing the energy the Lakers were lacking at times. More importantly, he was a plus-6 during his brief stint, as the Lakers gradually work him back into the rotation.
With just two weeks left before the February 6 trade deadline, the Lakers will need to evaluate their current roster closely.
