The prevailing belief is that Walker Kessler will stay put at the NBA trade deadline after the season he's had. He has established himself as the Utah Jazz's best player because of his return to form as an elite rim protector and, more importantly, because he's become more of an offensive threat.
That hasn't stopped him from appearing in trade rumors. Specifically, he has been linked in rumors tying him to the Los Angeles Lakers. ESPN's Shams Charania revealed that the Lakers are still trying to get him, though the Jazz's price is understandably steep.
“I think it’s harder to do deals in the NBA than ever before.”
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 26, 2025
Bob Myers shared his thoughts on the Lakers' efforts to make moves 🧠 pic.twitter.com/20vKjdXORa
Kessler would fit perfectly for the Lakers, all things considered. That's why he's been mentioned in multiple trade scenarios that would send him to Hollywood. He would give the Lakers perhaps the best big man they've ever paired up with Anthony Davis. More importantly, Davis has recently gone on the record saying he wants a pure five right next to him, and that's what Kessler is.
Lakers' Anthony Davis sits down for ESPN: “One, we want to win it for the city. Two, we never got a parade. Three, it’s a lot of talk about an asterisk … We are (1-2 pieces away). I really feel like we are.”
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 24, 2025
On roster needs, JJ Redick, motivations alongside LeBron James, more: pic.twitter.com/AHe6pfHxjB
The Lakers' undying interest in Kessler makes all the sense in the world, but if the Jazz even considered trading Kessler, and again, it doesn't feel like that's what they plan to do, why would they trade him to there?
Because they want more draft capital! Well, sure, they do. However, while more first-round picks are good, the Jazz want quality draft picks more than increasing their quantity. They demonstrated that when they traded three of their first-rounders to the Phoenix Suns for the Suns' unprotected first in 2031.
The message was clear as day: their focus is on getting the best draft assets, not the most. The Jazz already own a Lakers pick that is arguably just as good as the one they have from Phoenix. That's why trading Kessler for more Lakers picks wouldn't make much sense.
The Jazz would be sacrificing quality for quantity
The Jazz could very well take every last pick from the Lakers for Kessler, and it still wouldn't be a justifiable deal. They would greatly improve the Lakers' chances of going on an extensive playoff run, which could make that 2027 Lakers pick much less valuable, depending on how much longer LeBron James wants to play.
They also would give the Lakers a solid foundation for their future post-LeBron with Davis and Kessler. Those two wouldn't make the Lakers contenders, but they would make the Lakers good enough to attract another star that could make them contenders. That's the risk.
So the Jazz would own the Lakers' future as far as draft assets go, but they would also give LA a better foundation for the next several years, which would then cheapen the value of the assets they would get from the Lakers. They shouldn't view that kind of trade return as worth it because of how much better that one pick they have right now could be.
It's better to have one golden asset than several average ones. Or, in simpler terms, it's better to have a quarter than three nickels. If the Jazz want this rebuild to go the right way, even if the plan is to trade Kessler, they're better off keeping Kessler away from La-La Land no matter what.