The Lakers make sense as a trade partner for the Utah Jazz. The Jazz have veterans that could help the Lakers in their playoff aspirations. That's why there have been proposed trades between the Jazz and Lakers in recent weeks.
Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus proposed another trade between the two sides that would be a major shakeup for both teams. The Jazz would basically own the Lakers' future, while the Lakers would go all in on making another deep playoff run with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Pincus proposed the following trade between the two teams.
Lakers receive: Walker Kessler, Collin Sexton, Patty Mills
Jazz receive: Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Cam Reddish, Jaxson Hayes, remove top-4 protection from 2027 Lakers pick, 2029 Lakers first-round pick, 2031 Lakers first-round pick
Pincus explained why the Jazz would agree to this package from the Lakers.
"The Jazz fully invest in the Lakers being a disaster after James retires. L.A. had a six-season playoff drought the years after Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles' tendon in 2013. Utah might prefer to move Jordan Clarkson over Sexton, but the combination with Kessler gives the franchise three unprotected firsts from the Lakers (2027, 2029, 2031).
"None of the players coming into Utah move the needle, but the Jazz (8-25) are focused on development and lottery position more than winning. Perhaps Hayes and Hood-Schifino (who has also struggled to stay healthy) get a chance to play, but Hayes and Reddish may be buyout candidates. Vincent is the only player under contract next season ($11.5 million)."
The reasoning here is sound. Owning the Lakers' future after LeBron retires is an appealing option. Especially if the Jazz don't have to take that much salary back in such a trade. However, because of the Jazz's current mindset, this deal wouldn't make any sense for one reason.
The Jazz aren't trading Kessler
It's been confirmed in the last few days that the Jazz have no intention to trade Kessler. There's a fair argument to be made that he's been their best player this season. Given his youth and how well he's bounced back after how last season went for him, it would make no sense to get rid of him.
It would be great to own more high lottery picks, but what are the odds that any of them will turn out as good as Kessler currently is and could potentially be down the line? Kessler's career is back on track, so the only way the Jazz would trade him would be for an unquestionable upgrade, and they would only do that if they decided they wanted to make a playoff run.
Now, that doesn't mean the Jazz and the Lakers can't agree to a deal. After trading D'Angelo Russell for Dorian Finney-Smith, the Lakers suddenly don't have much scoring or playmaking from their guards outside Austin Reaves.
Sexton serves as both a replacement and arguably for an upgrade from Russell. The Jazz wouldn't get nearly the same package back from the Lakers that Pincus proposed above, but trading Sexton to the Lakers makes sense. That is, as long as the Jazz don't try to dump him.