![\"By\"](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_4107,h_2310,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/195\/01jgs3pfg2bmnrrek2ts.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
After a disappointing offseason where they didn’t make a substantial move, the Los Angeles Lakers finally traded for a quality rotation player last week.<\/p>\n
Parting ways with frustrating point guard D’Angelo Russell, the Lakers acquired three-and-D forward Dorian Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets.<\/p>\n
If the Lakers want to be a true title contender, however, that transaction alone will not be enough. The team needs more depth and talent to compete with the best of the best in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n
That is especially true for the frontcourt.<\/p>\n
Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus recently came up with a mock trade proposal that gives the Lakers exactly what they need. In this scenario, the Lakers send a first-round pick and Christian Wood to the Utah Jazz for talented big man Walker Kessler.<\/p>\n
They also remove the top-4 protection on the first-round pick they already owe the Jazz from the Russell Westbrook trade.<\/p>\n
Kessler is a defensive stalwart that has the ability to be an anchor in the paint. He is a good rim protector with size, length, and physicality.<\/p>\n
Not only would he be the best backup center the Lakers had behind Anthony Davis in years, but he could also potentially play next to AD in two big lineups.<\/p>\n
Offensively, Kessler is still a work in progress. The 23-year-old big man can finish around the rim but his range doesn’t extend much further. This will create spacing concerns for the Lakers, who are already lacking in shooting.<\/p>\n
However, Kessler will help the backup units defensively and is a major upgrade over the likes of Jaxson Hayes and Christian Koloko. Plus, he is under team control on a team-friendly deal.<\/p>\n
The Lakers should not make the first-round pick unprotected as that would carry significant risks but if they can get this deal done with a lightly protected pick, they should seriously consider it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After a disappointing offseason where they didn’t make a substantial move, the Los Angeles Lakers finally traded for a quality rotation player last week. Parting ways with… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":23285,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n