Trade Idea to Land Los Angeles Lakers, JJ Redick a Much-Needed Center https://t.co/OJLTRjoVmO
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) January 3, 2025
Los Angeles Lakers get:
-Walker Kessler
Utah Jazz get:
-Christian Wood
-Removal of top-4 protection on the Lakers’ 2027 first-rounder
-2029 first-rounder
Note: The Lakers previously sent the 2027 first-rounder to Utah in the Russell Westbrook trade. It will only be conveyed if L.A. is in the 5-30 range; otherwise, it will send its 2027 second-rounder. If the Lakers win the lottery (Nos. 1-4), their second-rounder will go to the Nets. After the Kessler trade, the 2027 second-rounder would still go to the Nets or Jazz, with the adjustment removing protection in the first round.
Kessler is the RIGHT CENTER for the Lakers because of his elite rim protection, age, and rookie contract. Trading for him will cost draft capital but will also allow Lakers to keep key rotation players like Vincent, Vanderbilt, and Christie, who would have to be part of a trade for a center earning $20M.
https://x.com/LakerTom/status/1875570640595689939