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“AR had a fantastic season last year, well-deserving of the contract he got and everything,” Grimes said on 710 AM ESPN L.A. with Mason & Ireland. “He’s one of the best scorers in the NBA, probably. Walker (Kessler), you know, is one of the best rim protectors. I know he only played like four or five games last year, but everybody knows what he does. Nobody wants to go in that paint, 7’2” guy he’s going to block shots. He’s going to give us a definite advantage because people aren’t gonna go in that paint, so we can guard and put pressure on the ball even more knowing we got big Walker down in the paint holding it down. “We got guys like Collin (Sexton), a dog. (Sandro) Mamu, a dog, already getting out here and getting work in. So, it’s going to be a lot of fun. I feel like we’re going to surprise some people for sure with how good we are and clicking on all cylinders, I think.”
Oh No He Didn't: Shams on Peyton Watson negotiations with the Nuggets: "In a potential sign and trade, the Nuggets initially had set a price this off season of similar to the Walker Kessler deal of two first and two swaps in any potential deal. Now that price, my understanding is a really good high level player as well as a first round pick"
Dave McMenamin: ‘Between now and the start of the regular season, they could carry 16 players, they carry up to 20 through training camp, but through now to the start of the regular season, you got to get rid of a player. Whether that's going to be continuing to try to move someone like Jarred Vanderbilt or Dalton Knecht, that they've not had success with thus far, and they've quite frankly tried for a while here, or could it be someone like Jaden Hardy who was picked up in the Deandre Ayton deal that was really more about trying to get some draft assets from Washington and move off of Ayton to make room for your new centers with Kevon Looney and Walker Kessler than it was about necessarily Hardy. That's one thing that absolutely has to happen. So that means their work's not done.’
The Lakers are still monitoring the market for big men, team sources told The Athletic. They traded for Walker Kessler and signed Kevon Looney to play center, and Sandro Mamukelashvili can play the position, too. The team could address the position either by trade or signing, like with potentially adding Matisse Thybulle. The roster is currently at full capacity.
Khobi Price: Walker Kessler said he's "excited to play again" after being limited to five games in 2025-26: "Sitting out a whole year definitely puts a lot of things in perspective. The heart grows fond in absence." Mentioned that he's "100% cleared" after the left shoulder surgery. He originally injured the shoulder in college:
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Khobi Price: Walker Kessler on shooting 3s after averaging a career high 1.6 3PAs in 2025-26 before his season ended in five because of shoulder surgery: "Coach JJ is obviously hyper intelligent. Obviously, being a shooter himself, we've talked about it and he wants me to be able to do that. Because I think for a big to be able to stretch the floor like that or even have the threat of it, I think it makes other teams scout really difficult. Cuz whether I can do that on the pop or catch on the pop, go second side or be able to roll, both those things are gonna be really important."
Khobi Price: Walker Kessler on the Lakers making a significant investment (contract plus draft picks) to acquire him from the Jazz: "It definitely makes you feel a certain way when you know an organization believes in you. And I think what they've invested, they're showing that belief in a monetary value, not just with money, but like you said, assets. And for me, I'm somebody that if I know that they have that belief in me, I'm gonna run through a brick wall for them."
Khobi Price: Austin Reaves on the Lakers' addition of Walker Kessler, who Austin was teammates with during the 2023 World Cup: "He’s a big, goofy dude that just enjoys life and has fun. Obviously you see what he does basketball wise and how he impacts the game. He’s good defensively, good in the pocket. Just a smart player. So I’m happy to have him on the team and get to play with him."
Atlanta, sources say, has also shown some fresh interest in Watson, which would likewise require a sign-and-trade to make it happen. That said, whether it's the Hawks or the Clippers or any other suitor, sources maintain that the Nuggets are seeking compensation on par with what Utah received from the Lakers in their recent sign-and-trade swap that made Walker Kessler a Laker.
Of course, there is upside to the new cast of characters. Walker Kessler is a 7-foot-2 young defensive anchor, Quentin Grimes has 3-and-D capabilities on the wing, Sandro Mamukelashvili is a bruising forward with outside range and Collin Sexton can provide instant offense off the bench and competes on the other end. A source familiar with Luka Doncic’s thinking told ESPN he was “excited” about the new players and “looking forward to getting to work with this group.”
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Kessler is viewed as the “perfect” fit alongside Doncic and Austin Reaves, according executives and scouts around the league. He is seen as a very good rebounder, shot-blocker and lob threat, which goes with what Doncic likes to have on his team. The NBA announced that the salary cap for the 2026-27 season is set at $164.961 million and the tax level is at $200.428 million. The first apron level is $209.015 million and the second apron is $221.686 million.
Shams Charania: The Lakers will now focus on finding Walker Kessler's backup on the market -- with centers such as Andre Drummond, Jonas Valanciunas and Kevon Looney among those being considered, sources said. The Wizards took a patient approach to the start of free agency and now land a durable, reliable center to join Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr in the frontcourt.
League executives have been struck by the money being spent on centers this summer. The Lakers traded two first-rounders, two second-rounders and two swaps to Utah in a sign-and-trade for Walker Kessler, whom they hope will become their franchise center for Luka Doncic's prime years, and then Los Angeles signed him to a four-year, $130 million deal. "There's several teams who wanted Kessler for a few years, and if it had been a truly open market, other teams might've been willing to make a similar [trade] offer," one NBA personnel director said. "But I'd be worried about doing a big deal with the Ainges [Jazz front office leaders Danny and Austin] just on principle."
Jaylen Brown: "Kessler to the Lakers. Walker, you know, Georgia kid, played with Game Elite. I know he's excited about, you know, he's been in Utah. I don't know how he feels about the big lights, the bright lights in LA, because I know Walker is more of a, he like a chill, cool."
