This could be Lakers’ biggest chance to grab coveted big man

The Los Angeles Lakers have circled Walker Kessler for more than a year, and his situation in Utah might finally open the door. According to The Athletic's Tony Jones, the Jazz and Kessler are not close on an extension, meaning he is headed toward restricted free agency in 2026. 

For Los Angeles, that creates leverage: Utah may not view him as untouchable for its rebuild, and the closer we get to this season’s deadline, the lower his price could slide.

Walker Kessler is obtainable now

Utah already signaled hesitation by declining to lock him into a long-term deal. No extension is expected before the season, per Jones. That sets up Kessler to enter RFA with just a $14.9M cap hold — valuable flexibility for a rebuilding Jazz team.

For the Lakers, this is the kind of opportunity they’ve been waiting for. The Jazz reportedly would want Austin Reaves plus multiple first-round picks in any deal. That’s a heavy ask. But as the months pass and the deadline approaches, the calculus changes. If Utah doesn’t see Kessler as a central piece, the risk of keeping him and matching a big offer sheet next summer grows. That’s when his market price could fall, and the Lakers could swoop in with a lighter package.

It’s the same story the NBA has seen before: Once a team tips its hand that a player isn’t central to its future, every rival knows patience pays off.

Why the Los Angeles Lakers need to act

Los Angeles doesn’t have Anthony Davis anymore. The roster now leans on Luka Doncic as the offensive hub and Deandre Ayton as the big addition this summer. Still, Ayton alone doesn’t solve the Lakers’ need for rim protection and defensive depth in the frontcourt. Kessler, at just 24, offers exactly that: a low-usage rim protector who blocks shots, rebounds and doesn’t demand touches.

He isn’t a star, but he doesn’t need to be. Next to Doncic, the Lakers require role players who do the dirty work, not high-usage scorers. Kessler fits the mold perfectly. He’d give them another young piece aligned with their timeline, and he’d free Ayton to play more of his natural offensive game without carrying all the defensive responsibility.

The risk, of course, is cost. Reaves is one of Doncic’s best perimeter partners, and the Lakers’ draft stock is already thin. Giving up too much could repeat the same mistakes of overpaying for role players. But if Utah’s asking price drops — from “Reaves and multiple firsts” to a single pick plus filler — it becomes much easier to justify.

The Jazz may hold firm now, but every week that passes without an extension makes it more likely Kessler will be moved. For the Lakers, this could be their best chance to get a long-term defensive anchor without giving up their entire future.

If Los Angeles truly wants Kessler, the time to push is during this season, before the deadline. Waiting until he hits restricted free agency means battling the entire league and likely paying more. Striking now could be the move that finally gives Doncic and the Lakers the defensive backbone they’ve been missing.