The Los Angeles Lakers will be one of the more active teams as we approach the 2025 trade deadline. The Lakers have over a month to make a trade or two to bolster their roster. If any team could use an upgrade to their roster, it is the Lakers. They have the talents of LeBron James and Anthony Davis on their side; the only thing they need is to add better depth pieces. L.A. has had virtually the same roster for some time now, but everyone knows it is time to make a trade.
L.A. has been linked to many top-tier players, but this trade proposal sees them upgrade their frontcourt and get a solid backcourt player. This trade proposal sees the Lakers add Jazz center Walker Kessler and guard Collin Sexton for three key depth pieces and a draft pick.
Lakers receive: Collin Sexton and Walker Kessler
Jazz receive: D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, Christian Wood, a 2029 first-round draft pick, protections off a 2027 first-round draft pick, and a 2025 second-round draft pick
The Lakers are the clear winners in this proposal, adding two players who will immediately impact both sides of the ball. Sexton can score at all three levels. He is only 25 years old and has improved in his time in Utah. His contract is more than affordable for a team that’s trying to win, and the Lakers are a team that is trying to do just that.
Sexton signed a four-year, $70 million contract with the Jazz in 2022 and is having a solid start to the 204-25 season, averaging 16.3 points per game, 2.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and is shooting 47 percent from the field and 38 percent from three. As for Kessler, he is the best player, or at least the player with the highest ceiling in this trade.
Kessler is a center that many teams, especially contending teams like the Lakers, would love to have on their roster. The 23-year-old is in his third year in the league and is putting together a career-best season against 10.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks. The Georgia native stands 7 feet tall and was named to the All-NBA Rookie First Team in 2023.
In his final season at Auburn, in 2022, he was also the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year. Kessler would have been a perfect fit next to Lakers superstar Anthony Davis. If there is one position group the Lakers need to upgrade significantly, it is their frontcourt.
Kessler would have provided defense, and with Davis by his side, the Lakers would have had two of the top shot-blocking centers in the league. Davis and Kessler combine for 5.0 blocks this season. Reports had suggested that the Jazz aren’t interested in trading Kessler, but a lot can happen from now till early February.
More News…
LeBron James Reveals Why He Was Away From the Lakers
After being forced to miss two games with the Los Angeles Lakers in an eight-day span, the NBA forward re-emerged Dec. 15 to help his team score a 116-110 win against the Memphis Grizzlies—though he was reluctant to step away to treat a foot injury.
“If it was up to just me, I probably would’ve played,” James told reporters of his brief hiatus following the Lakers’ victory, per ESPN.
“It would’ve been hard to keep me away from it. I have a team and I got to listen to them as well. They look out for my best interest.”
The time away seemed to pay off, as he contributed 18 points to the team’s final total against the Grizzlies.
“I had an opportunity to take more days and get my mind, body and everything where I wanted it to be for tonight,” James continued. “And it worked out.”
But the basketball veteran—who turns 40 on Dec. 30—still kept busy during his downtime, noting that he did “a lot of rehabbing, a lot of training still to make sure that I was ready to go tonight. Didn’t want to get too much out of shape.”
Looking ahead, Lakers coach JJ Redick said he would work to give the four-time NBA champion more breaks to avoid having him miss full games.
“Not necessarily less minutes,” Redick told reporters in a post-game press conference, per EPSN, “but shorter runs so that he’s not getting gassed and then quicker segments on the bench and then he’s back in.”
While James previously expressed his desire to hit the court for all 82 games of the regular season, his coach was more pragmatic about the goal.
“I don’t know that’s in the best interest of him and us if he does that,” Redick cautioned as he spoke to reporters Dec. 2, according to ESPN, “but if he’s feeling well and feeling good, then he should play. But we obviously want to … manage that as best we can.”
Read Also…
Stephen A. Smith Defends LeBron’s Recent Absence
Stephen A. Smith isn’t having any of the criticism surrounding LeBron James’ recent two-game absence from the Lakers. After James returned Sunday to help guide L.A. past Memphis, explaining he needed time to maintain his body, Smith delivered an impassioned defense of the 39-year-old star on “First Take.”
“This is the biggest non-story. I mean, Oscar goes to… My god, create the headline,” Smith said, mocking the media reaction.
“God forbid he took time off. Listen, LeBron James is approaching 40, he’s earned it. You wanna take a week off, so what?”
The controversy stems from James missing two games within eight days for “personal reasons,” which sparked trade speculation amid the Lakers’ struggles. However, LeBron’s track record suggests he’s earned the benefit of the doubt – he’s played 65+ games in 17 of his 22 seasons while rarely dealing with major injuries.
At nearly 40, James still logging 35 minutes per night demonstrates his commitment level. But the Lakers’ reliance on their veteran star to produce double-doubles just to stay competitive has clearly taken its toll.
For L.A. to seriously contend, they’ll need to reduce their dependence on James performing at prime levels every night. Until then, these strategic rest periods might become more common as the season progresses.
While Smith’s defense of James may quiet some critics, the larger issue remains – the Lakers need to find ways to succeed without relying so heavily on their aging superstar. Until then, managing LeBron’s workload through strategic rest might be their best path to keeping him fresh for when it matters most.
