The Los Angeles Lakers have aggressively been scouring the offseason trade and free agent markets to bolster their roster. With a primary emphasis on centers and frontcourt, the Purple and Gold have been rumored to be linked with several players.
A recent rumor that has garnered a lot of attention has seen the Lakers in talks with the Utah Jazz, in particular for their forward John Collins. The Jazz forward, who will be an expiring contract next season, could be an ideal addition to the Purple and Gold’s roster, especially when paired next to superstar Luka Doncic.
But this may not be the only move Los Angeles makes. With rumors suggesting that the Lakers have shown an interest in Jazz big man Walker Kessler as well, the Purple and Gold could very well attempt to kill two birds with one stone in trade discussions.
Considering the Lakers’ need to reinforce their frontcourt, any trade to acquire legitimate big men would be viewed as a priority. In light of this, we take a look at a potential trade deal to help the Purple and Gold land the Jazz’s big men.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Walker Kessler, John Collins
Utah Jazz Receive: Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, Dalton Knecht, No. 55 pick, 2031 first-round pick
This deal sees a lot of moving parts, with variable benefits for each party. Let’s explore how the trade impacts each team involved.
The Lakers Solve Their Frontcourt Issues
The addition of John Collins and Walker Kessler gives the Lakers an unprecedented amount of security in the frontcourt. When considering how effective both players have been in their respective positions, the Purple and Gold would have effectively solved the majority of their frontcourt issues with this trade.
Collins has proven himself to be an extremely versatile offensive forward. Although he boasts impressive shooting ability and an ability to stretch the floor, the Jazz forward is also very athletic, allowing him to be a capable lob threat.
The 27-year-old is far from being the player he was during his time next to Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. Regardless, his averages of 19.0 points and 8.2 rebounds on 52.7% shooting from the field and 39.9% from beyond the arc are impressive. With the Lakers, particularly next to Doncic, these numbers are also likely to increase as Collins would become a beneficiary of the Slovenian star’s incredible passes.
Meanwhile, the Lakers’ interest in Walker Kessler has not been random. Kessler is a genuine seven-footer, an intimidating presence under the basket who could potentially become the anchor of the team’s defense.
At only 23 years old, Kessler has been viewed as a reliable big man. His averages of 11.1 points and 12.2 rebounds per game present a lot of opportunity on a team that is in desperate need of a center capable of establishing their presence in the paint.
Kessler’s development over the last three seasons has been worthwhile, but it is his consistency as a shot-blocker that will garner particular interest. With a career average of 2.4 blocks per game, the young center should become a capable rim protector for this Lakers’ team.
The addition of these two players gives the team a lot of options when it comes to roster construction moving forward. While there have been free agents who have been presented as targets for the Purple and Gold, primarily using their taxpayer MLE, this trade would allow them to address other concerns.
The Jazz Acquire Relevant Assets
It is important to note that this trade doesn’t necessarily help the Jazz become a competitive team next season. Considering the state of their roster, Utah is still in the middle of its rebuilding project. Although underwhelming in that regard, this trade still gives the team the necessary assets to keep building.
The addition of Rui Hachimura and Maxi Kleber is a prime example of this. The veteran forwards were solid players last season, barring Kleber, who missed a large chunk of the year due to injury. Hachimura remains a valuable contributor to any team he is on, especially after recording a respectable average of 13.1 points and 5.0 rebounds last season.
But these players will have more value to the Jazz owing to their contracts. Both players will be on expiring contracts next season, with roughly $30 million coming off the books. Utah will clear a significant amount of cap space for next summer by acquiring these two players.
The workable assets for Utah, in this trade, are Dalton Knecht and the draft picks coming from LA.
Knecht proved to be an interesting developmental prospect. Having shown the potential to transform into a deadly perimeter threat, after averaging 9.1 points on 37.6% shooting from beyond the arc, Utah could look at cultivating his talent for the future.
The addition of draft picks does very little other than adding to the Jazz’s already overflowing war chest of draft capital. While the No. 55 pick does have some value, considering that the Lakers were looking to draft a talented big man using it, the Jazz may look to revisit this approach by using it as a trade chip.
The Lakers’ Potential Starting 5
This trade gives the Lakers a significant boost in their frontcourt rotation, inadvertently also building up their bench strength. With the addition of Walker Kessler and John Collins, the Purple and Gold could see a starting rotation featuring:
PG – Luka Doncic
SG – Austin Reaves
SF – LeBron James
PF – John Collins
C – Walker Kessler
With players such as Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt coming off the bench, the Lakers could see a much more holistic frontcourt rotation. However, with a need to add playmakers and wing depth, the Purple and Gold could revisit their offseason plans after completing this trade.
And with TWG Global stepping in as the new owners of the team, the Lakers also have the financial backing to make a big splash in the offseason.
