The Lakers finally landed their guy, securing Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz on July 1, and what they gave up for him tells you everything: two first-round picks and two swaps. The entire NBA world knew LA desperately needed an upgrade at center after dealing with stopgap players for too long, and now they’ve got a just-turned 25-year-old big man who looks like the perfect fit to stabilize their offense and unlock their superstar backcourt.
LA’s New Anchor Changes Everything Down Low
Kessler is an absolute force, known primarily as an elite defensive anchor, and that 7’2″ frame at 245 pounds is going to bring a serious level of stability and structure to a Lakers offense that’s all about its explosive backcourt. We’re talking about Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, who are both absolute pick-and-roll maestros. These guys are leading the charge in total possessions, running their offense at high volume while staying uber-efficient, with Dončić crushing it in the 90th percentile and Reaves right there in the 81st. Yeah, these productive on-ball guards just got a dangerous dance partner who can make their lives so much easier, and that should scare the rest of the West.
Kessler’s Unstoppable Offensive Game Around the Rim
The foundation of Kessler’s offensive game sits on his wide base as an excellent screener. Seriously, it’s near impossible for defenders to chase around that guy. He blends his sheer size with superior feel for the game, knowing exactly when to roll hard or slip early. Once his primary defender is initiated with the guard, Kessler just zips to the rim or an open spot, creating chaos. The source even showed him setting up a dribble handoff with now-teammate Collin Sexton, completely obliterating his defender and rendering him helpless before diving in line for a bounce pass and an easy finish at the rim.
He leverages his spatial awareness to sneak behind unsuspecting help defenders, commonly finishing with reverse dunks. He’s a massive, unmissable target, serving as a super useful release valve when those guards find themselves in trouble. And when he’s not setting a screen, he parks himself around the dunker spot, meaning defenses absolutely have to account for him. Look at his numbers: in his latest healthy year during the 2024-25 season, Kessler finished a ridiculous 73.6% of his attempts in the restricted area. That ranked him sixth among all centers attempting at least five per game, putting him ahead of guys like Jalen Duren and even Nikola Jokić. While he might not have the quick-twitch trampoline bounce of some lob threats, his 9’5″ standing reach means his catch radius is infinite, turning even dangerous, near half-court lobs into alley-oops. He’s just that effective as a vertical spacer.
The Lakers’ investment in Kessler means they’re banking on this guy bringing an immediate, game-changing impact. With his defensive prowess and his unstoppable offensive work around the rim, LA is set to unleash something new and dangerous. Get ready to see Dončić and Reaves absolutely feast, because their new big man is going to open up the floor like crazy and reshape their whole attack.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Silver Screen and Roll.
Leave a Reply