The Los Angeles Lakers look like one of the best teams in the West over the last month, going 6-4 in their last 10 games and climbing up to the No. 5 seed in the West. Their mid-season trade to acquire Dorian Finney-Smith is already paying off with Smith giving them a multi-positional option who's already closing lineups. The team is one step closer to contention but needs to fill certain holes in the roster.
With the team addressing its weak forward depth with Finney-Smith, it's time they look towards other pain areas. This refers to the team's lack of playable guard depth and no competent center outside Anthony Davis.
Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus has suggested a trade that sees the Lakers land two players to address their areas of need while giving up a major draft pick haul.
Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Walker Kessler ($2.9 Million), Collin Sexton ($18.2 Million), Patty Mills ($2.0 Million)
Utah Jazz Receive: Gabe Vincent ($11.0 Million), Christian Wood ($3.0 Million), Jalen Hood-Schifino ($3.8 Million), Cam Reddish ($2.4 Million), Jaxson Hayes ($2.4 Million), Removal of Top-4 Protection 2027 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2029 First-Round Pick (LAL), 2031 First-Round Pick (LAL)
This deal essentially gives the Utah Jazz a set of three unprotected first-round picks for helping the Lakers in this deal and their 2023 trade to salary-dump Russell Westbrook. The five players involved may as well be immaterial as the real value in this trade comes from three draft picks, all of which are likely to convey after LeBron James has retired.
The Lakers Complete Their Playoff Rotation
The Lakers front office has a solid record of hitting on unheralded players, whether it's through free agency or the NBA Draft. However, there have been a fair few missteps in the last two seasons which the Lakers can get rid of in one trade which lands them two players who are bound to make them better.
Walker Kessler has been discussed as a potential Lakers target for months, with the 23-year-old center averaging 10.4 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks this season. He could be a member of the franchise core for another decade, provided he can develop a more competent offensive game outside five feet of the basket.
Collin Sexton is averaging 17.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists this season. He might be the ideal solution to the team's backcourt needs next to Austin Reaves, being able to score as well as be aggressive on defense. However, it might be better for Sexton to replace D'Angelo Russell as the team's sixth man, continuing with the defense-oriented Max Christie in the starting lineup.
The five outgoing players are all players they can do without. Kessler and Sexton directly replace Jaxson Hayes and Gabe Vincent. Cam Reddish already lost his spot to Max Christie internally, with Christian Wood and Jalen Hood-Schifino's departure having no impact on the Lakers' on-court production. They can upgrade these players by just signing veterans in free agency to fill roster spots.
The Jazz Control Ultra-Valuable Future Assets
The Utah Jazz got the memo early this season and started tanking from day one instead of after January. They haven't picked in the top five in the last two years of their rebuild but are headed straight to the bottom of the lottery for an opportunity at the No. 1 pick. Their tanking focus has been clear all season, which is why their high-performing stars should be on the block to gain even more future value from them.
The five players in this deal will be afterthoughts as players themselves, with all but Gabe Vincent on expiring contracts. Vincent is a solid veteran guard who can stick around as an expiring contract next season, but his 4.3 points per game on 37.3% from the field this year prove he might not be a major on-court contributor in his next stop.
Controlling Lakers picks in 2027, 2029, and 2031 could pay off. LeBron might not even be around for the 2026-27 season, allowing the Jazz to draft immediately after James retires. He'll most definitely be gone by the time the 2029 and 2031 picks convey, with Davis likely at the end of his career himself.
Those picks could result in years of prosperity, and Danny Ainge will know that well.
A High Price For A Big Reward
This deal could transform the Lakers season. An eight-man Playoff rotation with Reaves, Christie, LeBron, Hachimura, Davis, Sexton, Finney-Smith, and Kessler would be among the most feared in the NBA if it were reality. It might hurt the team's overall depth in the regular season, but you could their current depth players with free agents and get similar results at this point.
The Jazz lose two tradeable assets but almost complete control of a franchise's draft assets for three out of the six seasons. The Lakers' volatility in transition eras means the franchise could end up forking up some highly valuable assets in the post-LeBron era if they can't transform the addition of Kessler and Sexton into long-term successes.
Pincus' idea is sound, and the more I think about it, the more I talk myself into the price of two additional first-round picks to make it happen. With Kessler being 23 years old and Sexton being 27, the Lakers can easily remain competitive for years if they make the right adjustments.
