Lakers linked to trade for 1 top defensive center

Apr 22, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at center court during game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Despite their surprise 3-0 start to the season, the Los Angeles Lakers may still be actively seeking ways to improve.

Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported over the weekend that the Lakers are interested in a possible trade for Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler. Buha notes that Kessler could make sense for the team as either a starting 5 alongside Anthony Davis or as a bench big.

The 7-foot Kessler may only be 23 years old, but he is already known as one of the best young rim protectors in the league. The No. 22 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Kessler has averaged 2.4 blocks per game over the course of his career and has been praised for his strong instincts as a defensive anchor.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have had Davis (who looks like an MVP candidate thus far with averages of 34.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game) as their starting center with Rui Hachmiura at the starting power forward spot and Jaxson Hayes as the first big man off the bench. While that combination has worked very well so far, it might not be sustainable over the course of an 82-game NBA season, especially with Davis also being tasked with serving as the team’s defensive cornerstone.

Kessler, who is still on his rookie contract for this season and next season, has long been rumored as a possible trade candidate for the rebuilding Jazz and even got interest over the summer from another big-market juggernaut . It should also be noted that the Jazz and Lakers have been trade partners before and that both franchises are relative strongholds for Klutch Sports .

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