However, acquiring the 23-year-old center appears to be a significant challenge, primarily due to the LA Lakers’ limited trade assets and the Jazz’s high asking price. “I think the issue with Walker Kessler and with Utah in general is their asking prices tend to be higher, and I think trading for Lauri [Markkanen] or Walker is going to be a high price,” The Athletic’s Jovan Buha noted on his latest Q&A; session. The beat writer then confirmed that LA targeted Kessler last year. “Going back to last season, I reported that the Lakers had had interest in Walker previously, and they had inquired about him to the Jazz, and the feedback they got was the starting price, not the final price. The starting price was the equivalent of two+ first-round picks,” Buha explained. According to the reporter, a package centered around Dalton Knecht and a single first-round pick would likely not be enough to entice Utah. -via BasketNews / June 10, 2025
