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Lakers Trade Picks for Walker Kessler, Eye Kuminga

7/3/2026

29 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Lakers acquired center Walker Kessler from Utah, sending unprotected 2031 and 2033 first-round picks and 2028/2030 swap rights.
Walker Kessler signed a four-year, $130 million deal worth about $32.5 million per year.
The moves left $52 million in cap space but no athletic forward, leading Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, to target Jonathan Kuminga and sacrifice draft flexibility.

History

Historical Context

After drafting Pau Gasol third overall in 2001 and trading him to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Los Angeles Lakers secured him in 2004 by sending the Grizzlies 2008 and 2010 first-round picks and cash, a deal that reshaped the team’s roster. The 2024 acquisition of Walker Kessler from Utah, costing unprotected 2031 and 2033 picks, shows the Lakers’ continued reliance on draft-asset swaps to stay cap-flexible.

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Story summary

The Lakers acquired center Walker Kessler from Utah, sending unprotected 2031 and 2033 first-round picks and 2028/2030 swap rights.
Walker Kessler signed a four-year, $130 million deal worth about $32.5 million per year.
The moves left $52 million in cap space but no athletic forward, leading Rob Pelinka, the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, to target Jonathan Kuminga and sacrifice draft flexibility.

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