Walker Kessler is the defensive presence LA has been looking for
Walker Kessler is a talented defensive big that the Lakes have shown interest in and he fills many of the holes the team had last season.
Immediately after Luka Dončić arrived in Los Angeles, speculation arose about which big man would join him.
Having just led a team to the NBA Finals with talented bigs by his side, the Lakers were quickly linked to centers around the league, but no one more than Walker Kessler.
The 7-footer in Utah is the best young center available on the market, and would immediately shift the Lakers’ fortunes on the defensive end. LA has reportedly already made an offer for Kessler, the latest confirmation of their heavy interest in the big.
While just finishing his third year in the NBA, Kessler has already gained a reputation as one of the best rim protectors in basketball. He combines the 7’4” wingspan with incredible timing and spatial awareness.
What he lacks in lateral quickness, he makes up for in sheer size, as shown in the clip below. Watch as he comes up to defend the ball screen. The opposing offensive player believes he has a step and his shot is swatted off the backboard.
Kessler helps create a no-fly zone at the basket with the ability to block and contest shots with either hand, something the Lakers have sorely missed since the departure of Anthony Davis. According to the NBA’s tracking data, teams shot 11.6% worse in the paint when Davis was defending the basket, with Kessler right behind him at 10.6%.
An important attribute of a great rim protector is a quick second jump, giving them the ability to recover and make multiple defensive plays on the same possession. Watch below as he jumps against the driving offensive player and still immediately takes away the dunk attempt by Alex Len.
Very few centers can leave their feet in the clip above and still recover to still block a dunk attempt this clean.
LA will undoubtedly be searching for a good shot blocker to pair next to Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James defensively. Kessler is a great one. Among centers who played at least 20 minutes per game, he ranked second in blocks at a monstrous 2.4 per game, trailing only Victor Wembanyama.
Additionally, every modern center needs the ability to take advantage of verticality. Kessler is skilled at defending without fouling, as demonstrated in the clip below. The opposing offensive player drives and dishes it to the big man, where Kessler is waiting for the contest at the basket.
Despite all the demanding tasks, Kessler averages just 2.2 fouls per game. This was a major concern for the Lakers' bigs after the trade deadline. They had a tendency to accumulate quick and cheap fouls, particularly during the postseason. This issue ultimately led head coach J.J. Redick to remove the center position from the rotation altogether.
Finally, Kessler uses all these tools to be a great rebounder, averaging 12.2 boards per game. He grabs 4.6 of those on the offensive glass, ranking him number one among all centers who played at least 30 minutes per game.
Watch below as he crashes the glass for a put-back slam at the basket.
On the offensive side, Kessler averages 11.1 points per game and is an easy lob threat target with good touch around the rim. He’d instantly give Dončić a deadly pick-and-roll partner to work with.
As you can see in the clip below, he rolls into the open space, giving his guard a passing window to find him on the lob.
LA’s roster has a clear gap at the starting center position, where the roles of defensive presence and protector are in urgent need. Kessler closely fits that description, especially on an affordable contract, something clearly considered, as highlighted by the Mark Williams move.
Acquiring young talent is always tricky, as the market cost for these players is impossible to gauge without being in the room. That said, the center market is bleak on free agents, making it possible that LA and Utah find a way to collaborate on another trade this summer.
You can follow Raj on Twitter at @RajChipalu.