The rumors tying Utah Jazz center to Walker Kessler have been well-documented for months now. The Lakers don't seem like the ideal trade partners for the Jazz at the moment, as they own the Lakers' top-four protected first-round pick in 2027.
Since trading Kessler to the Lakers would only likely make them better, which could make that pick worse, why would the Jazz do that? The Lakers have made trade offers to Utah involving Kessler, and the Jazz have said no. However, Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus proposed a trade that isn't actually the worst idea.
Pincus proposed the following deal between the Lakers and Jazz.
Lakers receive: Kessler
Jazz receive: Christian Wood, remove protections from the Lakers 2027 pick, 2029 Lakers first-round pick
Pincus explained why the Jazz would make this trade with the Lakers. He also acknowledged why
"Landing the Lakers' 2029 first-rounder would give Utah a chance at a high lottery pick, given that James just turned 40 and will (presumably) retire before the 2028-29 season.
'If Los Angeles suffers an earlier downturn, the extra shot at Nos. 1-4 in 2027 is a bonus that may or may not matter. But Utah must cast a wide net as it pushes through its rebuild. The Jazz may not want to help the Lakers improve, but Kessler won't make James any younger."
The Lakers just traded for Dorian Finney-Smith, signaling they intend to compete this season. They've actually gotten some results thus far this season, so Kessler would help them take a step further this season.
But would is this package good enough to entice the Jazz?
Making this trade would depend on how the Jazz view Kessler
Kessler has had a bounceback season, but his performance hasn't translated into much success for the Jazz as a team. That's exactly what the Jazz wanted, both from Kessler and for their tanking efforts. However, this calls into question his effectiveness as a rim protector.
It's not his fault he's surrounded by mostly subpar defenders, but it is somewhat telling that Kessler's presence defensively doesn't alter much for the Jazz. The drama with him in offseason trade rumors died down, but he could signify that he may not be long for Utah.
If the Jazz don't see Kessler as a long-term piece, Pincus' trade idea could be the best they could hope for. Kessler has still been mentioned in trade rumors, but good players on rookie contracts are very valuable, especially in today's NBA.
A deal involving D'Angelo Russell's expiring contract that could help the Jazz's cap flexibility would be a good sweetener in a deal like this, but the Lakers got rid of it to get their hands on Finney-Smith.
But the Jazz have another year and a half to decide if they want to keep Kessler long-term. Because they currently have low expectations, it's not like he has a ton of pressure. This deal comes down to what the Jazz value more: Kessler or their draft capital
Grade: B+