Jazz trade Kessler to Lakers; the bet is on his 2024-25 form

2026-09-28

The Utah Jazz have traded center Walker Kessler to the Lakers, resolving his restricted free agency. No figure for the return or for a new contract is available.

Kessler appeared in 5 of Utah's 82 games last season. Jalen Duren, the other center of note in this summer's class, still has an unsettled future.

That short season was the crossover: Kessler was paid like the 257th player in the league and produced like the 347th, a WAGE Score of 28, Under Water, per WAGE.

A season earlier, in 2024-25, he was paid like the 298th player and produced like the 62nd.

The Lakers are buying back that center, not the five-game one. Any new deal pays off only if his production returns to that top-65 level.