Walker Kessler trade and contract details: Lakers land young center in sign-and-trade with Jazz

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Walker Kessler trade and contract details: Lakers land young center in sign-and-trade with Jazz originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Lakers have finally addressed the center position with a major NBA free agency splash.

According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Lakers are acquiring Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler via a sign-and-trade. Kessler was among Los Angeles' top free agent targets, and President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka got a deal done to land the ascending center.

Adding Kessler to be the center of the future wasn't cheap. Let's take a look at what the Lakers had to give up in the blockbuster sign-and-trade.

Walker Kessler trade and contract details​

The Lakers are sending the Jazz unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, as well as first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.

Kessler's contract with Los Angeles will be for four years at $130 million, a $32.5 million annual value for the 24-year-old big man.

"BREAKING: The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030, sources tell ESPN. Kessler will sign a massive four-year, $130 million deal with the Lakers," Charania reported.

Shoulder surgery limited Kessler to just five games last season, but when on the court, the Atlanta native is a double-double threat on any given night and is an elite protector.

Kessler is the perfect center to pair with Luka Doncic due to his athleticism and shot-blocking ability. The UNC product will be a dynamic lob threat for Doncic and also cover up some of his defensive weaknesses by being the anchor of the Lakers' defense.

However, trading away multiple first-round picks and committing over $30 million per season to Kessler is a risk, given his injury history. If Kessler pans out for Los Angeles, the franchise has a high-level center for the next decade, but if he doesn't, this could be a franchise-altering mistake that could lead to the Lakers losing Doncic.

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