For nearly three months, the internal reasonings for many of the Lakers’ offseason decisions hadn’t been divulged. 

The biggest among them: Why the Lakers were comfortable investing as much as they did to acquire Walker Kessler from the Jazz via sign-and-trade.

Yes, Kessler has statistically been one of the NBA’s best rim protectors since entering the league in 2022.

And yes, he’s also been elite with his efficiency as a scorer around the rim (albeit on easier shots). 

But Kessler hadn’t played many games with true consequences since being selected with the No. 22 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, not playing in a single postseason game after four tanking-filled seasons in Utah.

He lacked individual professional accolades, not being named to a single All-NBA, All-Star or All-Defensive team since entering the league (he played on the 2023 Team USA World Cup team that finished in fourth place).

This is before even mentioning the fact he only played in five regular-season games in 2025-26, with a torn posterior labrum in his left shoulder that required surgery and ended his season early. 

And yet, the Lakers not only signed Kessler to a four-year, $130 million contract but they also sent the Jazz unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, trading most of their draft capital.

The Lakers’ rationale for investing as much as they did to get Kessler was simple. 

“Walker’s a perfect fit for Luka [Doncic] and [Austin Reaves],” coach JJ Redick said during his joint preseason media availability with president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka. 

Redick added: “If you canvassed the league and looked at age groups, even the ability to acquire someone, he’s just the perfect fit for those guys and building out the next phase of the Lakers.”

Pelinka echoed Redick.

“Twenty-five-year-old, two-way centers that are retrofitted perfectly for our two max guys in Luka and Austin just don’t exist,” Pelinka said. “There’s a scarcity of supply. It’s…There just is. And if you look at what you could potentially get in the draft or what is potentially going to come in free agency, those centers just don’t exist. So, when the opportunity comes and you have a superstar like Luka in your building, you have to seize it.”

Pelinka added. “Walker Kessler makes Luka better. He makes Austin better — and vice versa. So it’s just a perfect fit, and we didn’t see any opportunity like that coming down the pike anytime soon.” 

Why Kessler is a perfect fit alongside the Lakers star guard starts on the defensive end. 

He’s been one of the league’s best rim protectors since entering the league out of Auburn in 2022, ranking in the top seven of defensive field-goal percentage difference allowed within 6 feet of the rim in each of his first three seasons. This includes No. 3 as a rookie and No. 3 as a second-year player.     

Redick pointed out his team’s rim protection struggles last season, lacking the traditional defensive “anchor” that’s typically guiding the league’s top defenses. 

The Lakers were the league’s second-worst rim-protecting team in the league in 2025-26, finishing No. 18 in overall defensive rating.

Since the Lakers traded Anthony Davis as part of the deal to acquire Doncic in February 2025, Redick has consistently had to scheme up creative ways to protect the paint despite not having the best resources personnel-wise.

Now, Redick has a player in Kessler he can build the Lakers’ defense around.

While he didn’t get too specific, Redick alluded to the 2026-27 Lakers not having to switch as much defensively compared to the last couple of seasons because of Kessler’s presence on the interior.

Even though Kessler is versatile enough defensively that Redick can use him in multiple ways and gives the Lakers more options for their defensive schemes, drop coverage has been the best way for Kessler to operate.  

That should be the case for the Lakers, too.

“Not to get into details, but you guys obviously watched the playoffs, you probably have a basic idea of how San Antonio used [Victor Wembanyama] and kept him low, kept him by the basket,” Redick said. “And then the addition of guys like Ziaire [Williams] and Matisse [Thybulle]. Adou [Thiero] has had an unbelievable last two months of development — it’s the first stretch he’s had since we drafted him where he’s had uninterrupted time in the gym. His body’s been in great shape, and he’s just gotten better. 

“Our development of Cam Carr is crucial to that. Quentin Grimes … We have the guys that can pick up full court and guard and be disruptive, and then we have Walker back there. The combination of Walker’s ability to protect the rim and the wing defenders we have, we’re really excited about that.”

Kessler’s addition was one of the Lakers’ “three fundamental pillars” of the offseason, as Pelinka described it, which also included retaining Reaves (four-year, $180 million contract) and putting together a roster of “JJ Redick dribble-pass-shoot players” that were younger and add depth to the group. 

Accomplishing those goals came at a cost, which included losing LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Luke Kennard and other key players from the 2025-26 team that led the Lakers to their first playoff series victory since 2023.

But whether it was for Kessler specifically, or the roster as a whole, it was a price the Lakers were willing to pay.

“One of the things we really wanted to lean into was a team that lined up in age with Luka and AR,” Pelinka said. “We want this team to grow together. We were very intentional to get younger and deeper. If you look at our roster, that thesis was consistent throughout.”