The Los Angeles Lakers desperately need to make a move to improve their roster. One thing their 14-12 start to the season has shown is that their roster isn’t good enough to compete for the NBA championship. Perhaps one trade could make things better, as NBA insider Jake Weinbach is reporting that the Lakers could target Utah Jazz stars Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler in a deal that is built around D’Angelo Russell.
“The Lakers could be targeting Collin Sexton in a swap deal that would send D’Angelo Russell and second-round draft compensation to Utah.
Sexton is averaging 16.3 points per game and shooting 42% from 3 this season. Lakers have reportedly shown interest dating back to last year.
I also believe there’s a trade scenario where the Lakers pursue both Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler from the Jazz with a package that’s built around D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, a future first-round pick, and additional draft compensation.”
A deal like this is certainly possible, as the Jazz are a tanking team that might want to get rid of their stronger performers to improve their chances at a better lottery pick. This deal might be tricky to pull off, but it is possible. This is what we think this deal could possibly look like.
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Collin Sexton ($18.3 Million), Walker Kessler ($2.9 Million)
Utah Jazz Receive: D’Angelo Russell ($18.6 Million), Jalen Hood-Schifino ($3.8 Million), 2026 1st Round Pick, 2025 2nd Round Pick (Via LAC), 2025 2nd Round Pick
A deal that looks like this would be enough to get the Jazz to agree. Landing yet another first-round draft pick to add to their war chest will be enough to sweeten the deal and help seal the deal.
Why Would The Jazz Do This?
The Utah Jazz, as mentioned above, are a tanking team. They currently are the 14th seed in the Western Conference with a 5-20 record, the third-worst in the entire NBA. They clearly don’t have the roster to compete at a high level. And holding on to two strong players who can help contribute to winning isn’t necessary right now.
Furthermore, their rebuild isn’t just one or two pieces away from being completed, and they will be in the draft lottery for at least a few more years. Landing some draft picks allows them to scout out players in the upcoming draft classes. Or it allows them to make some trades later when they are ready to bring in some big players.
And lastly, D’Angelo Russell is on an expiring contract, which means they only have to keep him for the remainder of the season, and then decide whether they want to re-sign him in free agency. And Jalen Hood-Schifino, even though he isn’t quite at the required level, can be a player who can develop into a strong franchise piece in the years to come.
Why Would The Lakers Do This?
The answer to this question is seemingly obvious. D’Angelo Russell is averaging 12.4 points, 4.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game on 41/33/85 shooting splits. In comparison, Collin Sexton is averaging 16.3 points, 3.1 assists, 2.4 rebounds, 0.6 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game on 48/42/90 shooting splits. Sexton is playing well, nearly having a 50/40/90 season.
As for Walker Kessler, the Lakers are in dire need of a big man to relieve some of the defensive pressure that Anthony Davis is under. Landing Kessler allows Davis to move to the power forward position, and focus more on the offensive end. Kessler is averaging 11.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.5 steals, and 2.8 blocks per game on 72/100/58 shooting splits.
The acquisition of these two players will undoubtedly make the Lakers even stronger. A starting lineup of Collin Sexton, Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Walker Kessler immediately elevates the Lakers to one of the better teams in the NBA.
This Deal Makes Sense For Both Sides
At the end of the day, the deal we pitched above is hypothetical. While the Lakers definitely have some interest in Collin Sexton, one has to wonder if they will execute a deal before the deadline. Rob Pelinka has shown an incredible amount of hesitancy when it comes to making trades since the Russell Westbrook deal.
The only trade the Lakers have made in the last two seasons was the move to send Russell Westbrook to the Jazz. The same deal brought D’Angelo Russell, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Malik Beasley to the team. But he hasn’t been active in the trade market since then, despite the roster showing clear signs of needing improvement.
Fans of the Lakers have grown frustrated with Pelinka and the front office’s inactivity. And the hope is that the team will make a move soon. LeBron James and Anthony Davis will try their best to exert some pressure on the franchise to make some moves so that the franchise gets a legitimate opportunity to compete for the NBA championship.
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