Walker Kessler Trade Wont Save Lakers

The Lakers paid a huge price for Walker Kessler, sending two unprotected first-round picks and two swaps, then giving him $130 million over four years. Los Angeles needed a center after losing LeBron James, and Kessler can protect the rim and finish inside next to Luka Dončić. That still may not be enough to make the Lakers a real title threat. Kessler would need to stay healthy, land on the DPOY short list and lead a top-five defense for this deal to look right. That’s a lot to ask from a player whose value is built around a specific role.