Major NBA report should be of interest for Lakers and Celtics originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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There have been many reports that the Los Angeles Lakers have been interested in Walker Kessler over the past few seasons.
Kessler, who has proven to be one of the better young centers in the NBA, has yet to be traded by the Utah Jazz. While there are some questions about what his future looks like in Utah, it doesn’t sound like he wants to leave, but is more looking for a new contract.
According to the latest report, there are questions about his contract, and to me, that could be good news for teams like the Lakers and even the Boston Celtics.
“Difficult day for the Jazz on the optics front,” Sam Amick wrote on X. “Here you have Darryn Peterson refusing to work out for the team with the No. 2 pick, one year after Ace Bailey did the same. Meanwhile, sources tell @TheAthletic that a player who does want to be there — big man Walker Kessler — is at odds with the front office over his lack of an extension offer last summer and the current handling of his restricted free agency.”
Amidst all of the questions that the Celtics will also have to answer this offseason, figuring out a long-term center should be at the top of the priority list.
Not that the Celtics have a major problem at the center position, but I definitely go as far as to say that they could use some help at the five, and Kessler would do just that.
The Lakers have a bigger need than the Celtics in that regard, but I can see both getting involved here, so it should be of interest to them. At the very least, I wouldn’t be too surprised if there’s a trade to come for Kessler in the near future.
More Lakers news:
- Lakers get firm trade price tag on star to pair with Luka Doncic
- Lakers expected to at least make one upgrade this offseason in major way
- Lakers get bad news on Knicks NBA champion
- Lakers trade proposal replaces Deandre Ayton, but there’s much more to it
- Lakers proposal makes major trade including first-round pick
