Lakers Rumors: D’Angelo Russell Trade Package Wouldn’t Interest Jazz in Kessler Talks

Adam WellsNovember 1, 2024

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Despite the Los Angeles Lakers’ reported interest in Walker Kessler to give them a true center, they will have to improve their trade offer to the Utah Jazz if they want to make a deal work.

Per The Athletic’s Sam Amick and John Hollinger, a package headlined by D’Angelo Russell and several first-round picks “would not be of interest” to the Jazz.

While most of the attention for the Jazz during the offseason was focused on Lauri Markkanen’s status, Kessler’s name did pop up as a potential trade candidate.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported on Oct. 6 the Jazz and New York Knicks discussed a Kessler deal before the Karl-Anthony Towns trade went down.

Talks broke down between the two sides because New York didn’t want to meet Utah CEO of basketball operations Danny Ainge’s demand for its 2025 protected first-round picks owed from the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons.

The Lakers’ formula for success so far this season under first-year head coach JJ Redick has been the inverse of how they played in the previous two years with Darvin Ham.

Ham’s teams were led by a strong defense and enough offense from their star players like Davis and LeBron James. The 2024-25 team ranks eighth in offensive rating and 25th in defensive rating through five games.

One of the biggest changes seems to be that Redick is running the offense through Davis, which had been talked about within the Lakers for years.

Even though Davis will be the primary big man in Los Angeles as long as he is healthy, the Lakers could use more size to contend with some of the bigger teams in the Western Conference.

Jaxson Hayes has been a viable big man off the bench to start the season, but his track record in the NBA is spotty.

Russell’s value is always hard to pin down. He seemed to be in line for a nice contract during the summer coming off arguably the best season of his career, but he decided to exercise his $18.7 million option to remain with the Lakers for one more year.

Now that Russell is on an expiring contract, he is once again going to be at the center of trade talks involving the Lakers as they try to find ways to boost their roster.

The center spot has been a question mark for the Lakers for some time. Even though Davis is the nominal starter at the position, he has previously indicated he doesn’t necessarily want to play center.

Perhaps the way that Davis has fared in Redick’s system so far has convinced him otherwise, but any interest the Lakers might have in Kessler at least indicates they are aware they need more center depth.