Lakers: Forget Walker Kessler, Trust Ayton

Merlin hears that Walker Kessler "will not reach an agreement on a rookie-scale contract extension," putting him on track for restricted free agency in 2026 and nudging Utah toward listening on trades. That matters because the Jazz can still match offers and "highly value [him] and see him as a cornerstone to the future," so any deal for Kessler won’t come cheap. He’s a rim-altering force who weakens away from the paint, and the Lakers already filled the center need by adding Deandre Ayton. Merlin sees a simpler path: don’t overpay for a specialist priced like a centerpiece. Let Ayton settle, build chemistry, and only circle back if the fit fails or the price softens near the deadline or next summer. Patience, not panic, is the smarter spell.