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The obstacle preventing the Lakers from trading for Walker Kessler
Many people around the NBA know that the Los Angeles Lakers have wanted to acquire center Walker Kessler for some time. Kessler, 23, is one of the league’s brightest young centers, especially defensively and on the boards, where he is a beast.
They need a better backup center who can do a better job of defending, rebounding and providing physicality than Jaxson Hayes, their current second-string center. Kessler would seem to be the man to plug that need, but the team has seemingly run into a brick wall when it comes to negotiating a trade with the Utah Jazz to land him.
ESPN insider Shams Charania said that the price for Kessler is simply too high for Los Angeles (h/t Lakers Daily).
A recent report in the Los Angeles Times also indicated that Kessler isn’t “available in any realistic trade scenarios” and that the Jazz apparently have chosen to keep him rather than look to trade him.
He is averaging 11.3 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks a game this season. While he isn’t a bona fide offensive threat, he’s a strong finisher at the rim and leads the NBA with a 72.7% field-goal percentage.
The Lakers have two future first-round draft picks they can offer in a trade prior to the Feb. 6 deadline. However, they also need help at the point guard position, so they will have to use their finite trade assets wisely in order to address both the point guard and center spots.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis, both of whom continue to play at a superstar level, are reportedly getting concerned about the franchise’s ability to make a significant trade that would truly move the needle.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: The obstacle preventing the Lakers from trading for Walker Kessler
The obstacle preventing the Lakers from trading for Walker Kessler
One of the biggest obstacles preventing the Lakers from trading for Walker Kessler is the lack of attractive assets to offer in return. The Lakers are already strapped for cap space and have limited draft picks to offer in a potential trade for the young center.
Additionally, Kessler has shown tremendous potential in his time at UNC and is considered a valuable asset for the Tar Heels. It would likely take a significant offer from the Lakers to pry him away from North Carolina.
Furthermore, the Lakers are currently focused on making a deep playoff run and may not want to disrupt their roster with a mid-season trade for a young player like Kessler. They may prefer to wait until the offseason to make any major moves.
Overall, while the Lakers may have interest in acquiring Walker Kessler, there are several obstacles standing in their way, including their lack of assets to offer in a trade and the timing of any potential deal.
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