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NBA rumors: How Jazz held Lakers’ Rob Pelinka over barrel in Walker Kessler trade talks
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- NBA rumors: How Jazz held Lakers’ Rob Pelinka over barrel in Walker Kessler trade talks
NBA rumors: How Jazz held Lakers' Rob Pelinka over barrel in Walker Kessler trade talks appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Lakers made a big splash, trading two first-round picks and two future pick swaps for Utah Jazz big man Walker Kessler , and then signing the center to a new, massive contract that will keep him in Los Angeles long term. While the move shores up the Lakers' gap at center, it also was a hefty price to pay for Kessler, who has struggled to stay on the floor at times during his career.
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Now, more information is coming out about how the Jazz were able to get Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka to fold and give up such heavy assets for Kessler.
"Rob's job depended on landing Kessler. Utah took him for everything he could offer. Doesn't mean it might not work out. Just pointing out how steep a price this was to pay," reported Anthony F. Irwin of Offside on X, formerly Twitter.
Indeed, the pressure was on Pelinka to pivot fast and make some things happen after LeBron James announced he would be taking his talents elsewhere in free agency earlier this week. While many people initially see this Kessler move as an overpay, it certainly reiterates Pelinka's commitment to building a roster ready to compete around Luka Doncic, if nothing else.
Since the Kessler news broke, the Lakers have also reportedly gone out and signed Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, and Sandro Mamukelashvili in free agency, per Shams Charania of ESPN, giving them some much-needed shooting and additional ball-handling on the wings to help supplement Doncic and Austin Reaves.
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Still, at this point, it's unclear if the Lakers have done nearly enough to truly stay competitive in the vaunted Western Conference this offseason.
Related: Quentin Grimes' adorable photo with dad shows he was meant to be a Laker
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