Walker Kessler returned to the court on Tuesday night for the first time in almost a full year, suiting up for the Lakers after the Utah Jazz traded him to Los Angeles at the beginning of the offseason. It's just the preseason, and he played only the first half, but he is already showing why his new team was willing to pay so much to get him.
The Jazz received two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033) and two first-round pick swaps (2028 and 2030) from the Lakers for Kessler. It was a high price for Los Angeles, even more so for a player who hadn't reached the All-Star level yet, but they needed an athletic, rim-running center to pair with Luka Dončić, and Kessler fit the description.
In his unofficial Lakers debut, Kessler finished with 11 points (four-of-six), nine rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block in 16 minutes. Los Angeles outscored Golden State by 15 points in his minutes.
He didn't get to operate in the pick-and-roll with Dončić, who was out, but he did get in some action rolling to the basket and catching passes from Austin Reaves. It gave fans a glimpse of what to expect when the superstar guard is on the floor, throwing lobs to the center.
Walker Kessler looked solid in his first action with Lakers
It was a solid first showing for Kessler, considering it had been so long since he played, and he was sharing the floor with new teammates. That's one of the benefits of the Lakers making the trade with the Jazz, as it gave him the summer to adjust to his new environment.
In Utah, Kessler has already established himself as one of the league's best rim protectors and rebounders, serving as the Jazz's defensive anchor. That's a void the Lakers desperately needed to fill, and Los Angeles got to see how nice it will be to have the 25-year-old holding down the fort.
Kessler is expected to help the Lakers contend for a title right away, a much different position than he was in with the Jazz. That puts more pressure on his shoulders than there already is, given what Los Angeles gave up for him and how that will be used against him when he inevitably has off nights.
Jazz should still feel good about the Walker Kessler trade
Utah shouldn't regret letting Kessler go, not after one preseason game, especially after what it got for him. The Jazz took advantage of having the upper hand in restricted free agency and the Lakers' desperation for a center.
Negotiations with Kessler hadn't progressed, so rather than risk dragging things out through the offseason, as it did with Detroit and Jalen Duren, Utah walked away with additional draft assets. Of course, it helped, too, knowing the Jazz had Jaren Jackson Jr., which made it easier to justify losing Kessler.
Utah will miss Kessler at times, especially when he plays alongside Dončić, who elevates the big men he shares the floor with. With the circumstances surrounding his restricted free agency, the Jazz knew they couldn't pass up the opportunity.
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