Lakers’ Massive Gamble Could Become A ‘regular-season Wins Machine’

The Los Angeles Lakers spent like Walker Kessler must become much more than a conventional center.

Kevin O’Connor and Raj Chipalu believe he could be the piece that stabilizes the Lakers on both ends — and turns its revamped core into a relentless regular-season operation.

Discussing Kessler on “The Kevin O’Connor Show”, O’Connor said the 7-foot-2 big man was “amazing when he was healthy” and argued that the Lakers’ steep investment reflects how difficult his skill set is to find.

Los Angeles sent Utah unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, plus swaps in 2028 and 2030, to complete the sign-and-trade, then gave Kessler a four-year, $130 million contract.

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O’Connor described him as an “elite interior defender,” lob target, finisher and screener. He also pointed to Kessler’s early experimentation with spot-up 3-pointers, a development that could determine whether the deal eventually resembles an overpay or an underpay.

The immediate fit beside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves is uncomplicated. Kessler can create advantages without demanding post-ups or midrange touches: set a sturdy screen, roll hard, catch lobs and punish defenses on the offensive glass. He led the NBA with 4.6 offensive rebounds per game in 2024-25.

His larger responsibility is covering for breakdowns at the other end. Kessler contested 7.5 shots per game at the rim in 2024-25 and held opponents to 54.8 percent shooting there, placing him behind only Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren among the league’s highest-volume rim defenders.

Chipalu called the Kessler-Dončić-Reaves trio a “regular-season wins machine.”

His reasoning centered on coach JJ Redick, who guided the Lakers to 53 wins last season even though Dončić and Reaves played only 41 games together. Adding a low-maintenance center who blocks shots, rebounds and complements both creators should raise the team’s nightly floor.

The postseason question is harder. Elite defenses can sag away from centers who do not shoot, clogging Dončić’s driving and passing lanes. Kessler made six 3-pointers in only five games last season, but that remains a tiny sample rather than proof of a dependable weapon.

Health carries equal weight after a torn labrum and shoulder surgery ended that season. The Lakers have limited conventional center depth, making availability essential. Robert Horry has already called Kessler the team’s key, while Kessler has said the franchise’s investment makes him want to “run through a brick wall.”

Kessler does not need superstar usage to justify the gamble. If he stays healthy and masters the role around Los Angeles’ two creators, the enormous price may begin to look less like an indulgence and more like infrastructure.