The Los Angeles Lakers have been extremely active at the start of NBA free agency, shaking up both the league and fantasy basketball. Their first big move was a massive trade with the Utah Jazz for center Walker Kessler. Los Angeles sent unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and two future first-round pick swaps.
With this move, the Lakers get the big man they have coveted for years. Subsequently, Kessler will be signing a four-year $130 million deal with his new team. Even when they had Anthony Davis, they still didn't have a true center. Now they do. This was the first big addition to their roster since the exit of LeBron James, which starts the true Luka Doncic era in LA.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, sources tell ESPN. Kessler will sign a massive four-year, $130 million deal with the Lakers. pic.twitter.com/rt8b17fEQZ— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2026Kessler was just the first of a flurry of big moves for the Lakers this afternoon. After the big trade, the Lakers agreed to deals with free agents Collin Sexton, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Quentin Grimes to new deals.
