Lakers face instant reality check on expensive Walker Kessler gamble

The Los Angeles Lakers have high hopes this season, but with the Western Conference packing an even stronger collective punch now, there is not a path to success for the franchise if its key players are not fully healthy. 

Unfortunately for them, it seems like they are already dealing with an injury to Walker Kessler, who was their biggest addition this offseason.

Kessler, whom the Lakers took an expensive gamble on, has yet to play in the preseason with a finger injury. Granted, that is pretty minor in the grand scheme of things, but it should serve as a reality check that the front office brought in a potentially huge difference-maker but in an injury-prone package.

Lakers get an early sign of how injury-prone Walker Kessler can be

In getting their hands on the prized center, the Lakers had to dangle away two unprotected first-round picks while also relinquishing two pick-swap rights to the Jazz. A lot of people called it an overpay, so if there is one thing clear, it is that their brain trust lodged a hefty investment on him.

Last season, Kessler only suited up for five games for the Jazz due to injury. With him steadily growing over the years, the Lakers decided to gloss over that and take a gamble on him as the center to pair with Luka Doncic. 

Right now, there are no major concerns with Kessler's availability, but he has already dealt with numerous minor injuries in his career. Accounting for precedence, there could be a strong chance that he will miss a considerable number of games every season, and that is simply something the Lakers will have to stomach.

Without a healthy Walker Kessler, L.A. will not be making real noise in the West. Unfortunately for the franchise, the data is not too friendly for them in that regard, so they better hope that their expensive gamble on the big man pays off.