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Grading Lakers’ $130 million Walker Kessler sign-and-trade with Jazz
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- Grading Lakers’ $130 million Walker Kessler sign-and-trade with Jazz
Grading Lakers' $130 million Walker Kessler sign-and-trade with Jazz appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
While the first day of the NBA free agency negotiation period was relatively quiet, day two started off with a bang, highlighted by the Los Angeles Lakers coming to terms on a sign-and-trade deal with the Utah Jazz involving incoming fifth-year center Walker Kessler .
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It's no secret that the Lakers came into this offseason looking to add an 'A-list' center to play alongside Luka Doncic. They had been linked to unrestricted free agent targets such as Mitchell Robinson and Robert Williams III, and they were reportedly taking meetings with both Kessler and fellow restricted free agent center Jalen Duren.
With Kessler in the fold, the Lakers have their big man of the present and the future, albeit at a hefty price . The former Auburn star will ink a $130 million contract for four years, while the Lakers will convey a large stash of draft capital to the Jazz in the trade. Here's a quick breakdown, including a grade for the Lakers' big free agency splash.
Lakers acquire Walker Kessler in sign-and-trade
Even before looking at the contract or what it took to get him, it would be understandable if there was a little apprehension to pursuing Walker Kessler. After playing in 74 games as a rookie four years ago, his number of games played has steadily decreased each consecutive year, culminating in him being sidelined for all but five games last season due to a shoulder injury.
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The past few years, it's been a multiple injuries to varying degrees, but some of it can also be chalked up to the Jazz being in a prolonged tank. And to be fair, while he's had minor ailments here and there, last season was really the only one in which Kessler deal with a major injury.
Assuming he's healthy and ready to play, the next step in evaluating this trade is looking at the length and amount of the contract and what it took to execute the deal. And when it comes to what the Lakers had to give up, it was quite a steep price to pay. The team no longer has any draft picks, save for one in the second round, until 2033.
That essentially means the Lakers will not have the draft to help improve the roster, and will have to rely on free agency and trades for the duration of Luka Doncic's prime. Now if the Lakers are serious about being a contending team, those picks likely would be late in the first round. But if you have a great scouting staff, that's still an opportunity to find potential impact talent at a relatively cheap price.
And when it comes to the contract itself, $32 million per season is an awful lot of money to pay to a player who maybe hasn't quite shown that he's worth that financial investment just yet.
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But in order to pry away a restricted free agent, teams are going to have to make a sizable commitment money-wise. The Lakers did just that and were able to strike a deal early so they didn't have to waste time with an offer sheet and thus have their money tied up while all their other free agent targets sign elsewhere.
And as far as the basketball fit, Kessler hasn't shown much offensively outside of being able to finish at the basket, but that's exactly what the team needs at the center position. Kessler fits like a glove alongside both Doncic and Austin Reaves. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka needed to do something this offseason, and he landed one of the best centers available.
Final grade: B
Sure the draft picks and the money allocated are both a steep price to pay, but that was always going to be the case to grab one of the top restricted free agents. The next step is seeing how it all plays out on the court.
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