Lakers Trade Kessler After LeBron Exit | Utah Jazz News

Utah Jazz News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 6, 2026 · 2m

The Lakers pulled off a savvy move by landing Walker Kessler, a big upgrade for their frontcourt—especially after LeBron James’ departure made the Jazz more willing to trade him. With LeBron gone, Utah saw less risk in sending Kessler to a team that’s no longer a top-tier contender, and they’re banking on future draft picks to offset the loss. While Kessler addresses the Lakers’ biggest need, he’s not a magic bullet, and with heavy commitments to Luka, Reaves, and Kessler, the team still faces stiff competition from multiple Western Conference contenders. The Jazz, meanwhile, may have just…