According to at least one report, the Los Angeles Lakers’ biggest priority as far as upgrading their roster this summer is acquiring some sort of upgrade at the center position. While current starting center Deandre Ayton played well at times, most consider him to be a disappointment, and he has a player option for next season. In addition, backup center Jaxson Hayes is about to become a free agent at the end of this month.
For at least the past year, Utah Jazz big man Walker Kessler has been linked to the Lakers. He will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and he has been thought to be a bit unrealistic for Los Angeles. But according to a new report in The Athletic, there may be at least a crack in the proverbial window for L.A. to snag Kessler.
Sam Amick wrote that Kessler “is at odds” with Utah’s front office and may be considering leaving.
“Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler is at odds with the team’s front office over the current handling of his restricted free agency, league sources told The Athletic,” Amick wrote.
“Kessler, the 24-year-old who was taken 22nd overall out of Auburn by the Memphis Grizzlies before his rights were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves and eventually the Jazz in 2022, was already known to be frustrated by Utah’s choice not to offer him an extension last summer. And now, with the Jazz choosing to leverage the realities of restricted free agency against him as a way to minimize his market, sources say he is strongly considering the prospect of a basketball future outside Utah.”
Kessler has been a dream target for Lakers fans due to his outstanding rebounding and rim-protecting skills. In his four seasons in the NBA, he has career averages of 9.5 points on 68.1% shooting, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 25.3 minutes a game. While he only played in five games this season due to a torn left labrum, he remains one of the most attractive centers, if not the most attractive center, in this year’s free agent class.
But since the Jazz have the right to match any outside offer given to him, it won’t be simple for the Lakers to snag him, no matter how badly he may want to leave Utah. It could take an offer well north of $30 million for the Jazz to fold, and giving that much money to a player who lacks offensive skills is very risky and perhaps just unwise.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Big Lakers center target ‘is at odds’ with his current team
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire | USA TODAY Network
