The Los Angeles Lakers set out with one goal this summer: to improve the roster around Luka Doncic. In the early days of his arrival, GM Rob Pelinka promised action in the summer of 2026, and he followed through with a flurry of moves that have revamped the team.
Now, with the roster all but set, the Lakers feel satisfied with their progress, but the important thing is how Luka feels. While there’s still so much work to be done, Doncic is reportedly thrilled with the Lakers’ offseason. In fact, Walker Kessler was someone he had been pushing for, and there’s a sense that the two of them (alongside Austin Reaves) can lead Los Angeles to prosperity in the West.
“Kessler was the franchise center Doncic wanted so badly, and from the people I’ve spoken to, I can confirm he pushed hard for this move,” wrote NBA insider Iztok Franko.
With career averages of 33,5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game on 47.6% shooting and 36.6% shooting from three, we all know what Luka is capable of offensively. On that end, Doncic’s skills have no limits, and it means the Lakers will always be an elite scoring team. What Doncic truly needs to be successful is a strong frontline to protect the rim, challenge the boards, and catch lobs for easy buckets.
Walker Kessler fits in many ways, and it makes sense why Doncic was focused on playing with him. At 7’2″ and 240+ pounds, Kessler brings size and length at center, along with elite interior defense and capable finishing abilities. Last season, while limited to five games, he averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 blocks, and 1.4 steals on 70.3% shooting and 75.0% shooting from three. At just 24, he hasn’t even hit his peak.
The catch is that Kessler came at the price of four future draft picks, depleting the Lakers’ tradeable asset pool. What’s worse is that Walker is on the books for $130 million over the next four years, tying up the majority of their salary between three players.
Even so, the bet on Kessler was worth it for a Lakers team that’s desperate to please Luka. While he may have signed that extension last summer, he could become a free agent again as soon as 2028. The Lakers only have until then to show Doncic they are a place where he can win multiple titles.
Signing Kessler was the first step in that process, but there’s still a long way to go. With the Thunder and Spurs both competing for supremacy in the West, the odds are stacked against Los Angeles to reclaim the Larry O’Brien trophy in 2027. Fortunately, the Lakers may not be far off from reaching a higher level of contention.
If they can build on their mounting momentum and continue making upgrades around the core group, the Lakers may yet find the formula to prosperity as a group. At the very least, they can secure Doncic’s long-term commitment to keep the championship window open for many years to come. That’s why, no matter who else they add, the Lakers can tag this summer as a success, and that’s no small feat given who they lost.
