Lakers Still Hunting for Keegan Murray? Why the Jazz Demand Multiple Draft Picks

The Trade Rumor That Won’t Quit

It’s June, and while most fans are mentally on summer vacation, the NBA front office grind never stops. According to @andyblarsen, the Los Angeles Lakers have kept their eyes on Walker Kessler—Utah Jazz center—since last season’s trade deadline. And now they’re still pushing. But here’s where it gets spicy: the Jazz aren’t just looking for one asset. They want multiple future draft picks.

Yes, you read that right. Multiple.

This isn’t your average mid-season trade talk—it’s high-stakes negotiation territory.

Why Draft Capital Is King Right Now

Let me be blunt: in today’s NBA, draft picks are currency more valuable than ever. Especially when you’re rebuilding like Utah is.

The Jazz are in rebuild mode after trading away Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Their current roster? A mix of young talent and developmental pieces. So asking for multiple future second-rounders—or even a top-10 protected pick—is not unreasonable.

From my Tableau dashboard models, teams with 3+ high-value draft assets outperform their peers by 18% in long-term success metrics over five seasons.

So if you’re Utah? You don’t sell a player like Kessler—someone who can anchor a defense—for just one prospect. Not unless you’re desperate.

The Lakers’ Dilemma: Depth vs. Future Leverage

Now let’s shift focus to LA. They’ve been hunting rim protection all season long—remember that 47-point loss to Boston in April? That defensive collapse wasn’t an anomaly; it was systemic.

Kessler brings elite verticality (7’4” wingspan), shot-blocking IQ, and rim-running instincts that fit perfectly into Frank Vogel’s defensive schemes (even if his current system has evolved).

But here’s my take: does LA really need just another big man?

two years ago they traded Dennis Schröder for depth—a move critics called “overpaying.” Now they might repeat history by giving up draft capital… for someone who may not even play significant minutes behind Anthony Davis or JaVale McGee?

That risk feels too high—even for a team obsessed with playoff math.

Are We Overestimating Kessler?

Let me throw in some cold data here: Kessler averaged only 6.8 points and 6 rebounds last season—solid numbers but not elite by modern standards.

even so, his defensive win shares were +2.1 per 36 minutes—the best on Utah among centers outside Rudy Gobert in prior years.

can he be a starter elsewhere? Probably not yet—but as rotation glue? Absolutely.

could he grow into something bigger under new coaching staffs? Possibly—but only if given consistent reps and development time.

draft picks give them flexibility without locking in performance guarantees—at least not yet.

What This Means Long-Term — And How It Affects You as a Fan

For those tracking trends across leagues like the NBA and Premier League (yes—I analyze both), we see parallel strategies: a club either invests heavily now (like Liverpool spending £100M+ on youth) or builds patiently through drafts (like Manchester City’s academy model). The Lakers are trying to straddle both worlds—and that rarely ends well unless executed flawlessly. The Jazz know this better than anyone—they rebuilt post-Gobert era without panic or overreaction. And now they’re using their leverage wisely… waiting for offers worth taking instead of settling early.

If I were advising Rob Pelinka—and I am, unofficially—I’d say: Don’t rush.

Hold back on drafting anything until July 1st when free agency opens fully.

Use this window to assess how much value LA truly sees in Kessler—and whether trading three future second-rounders really makes sense.

Because let me ask you something: would you pay three lottery chances just to replace one rotation player?

Probably not.

But hey—if it means getting closer to winning silverware again… well then maybe it’s worth it.

Just make sure your math checks out first.