Lakers' Roster, Salary Cap, Draft Picks After Kessler Trade and Sexton, Grimes, Mamukelashvili Deals

The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly addressed one of their biggest needs of the offseason with a major acquisition on Wednesday.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the Lakers traded unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 to the Utah Jazz to acquire center Walker Kessler, who will sign a massive four-year, $130 million contract with Los Angeles.

Charania also reported that the Lakers are signing big man Sandro Mamukelashvili to a four-year, $52 million contract that includes a player option in the final year. He added that shooting guard Quentin Grimes is signing a four-year, $60 million contract with the team that includes a player option. Point guard Collin Sexton also reportedly signed with Los Angeles on a two-year, $19 million contract with a player option.

According to Spotrac, the Lakers are $115.7 million below the tax threshold, facilitating the new deal for Kessler and the contracts for Mamukelashvili, Grimes and Sexton. ESPN's Bobby Marks explained the impact of the trade on Los Angeles' future draft capital and salary cap:

Following Kessler's acquisition and the signings of Mamukelashvili, Grimes and Sexton, Los Angeles' depth chart now looks like this:

PG: Luka Doncic, Collin Sexton, Bronny James

SG: Austin Reaves, Quentin Grimes, Cameron Carr

SF: Jake LaRavia, Adou Thiero, Dalton Knecht

PF: Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber

C: Walker Kessler, Deandre Ayton, Drew Timme

Charania added that Kessler's four-year deal with Los Angeles includes a player option in the final year and a full trade kicker. His acquisition comes after The Athletic's Sam Amick reported that Detroit Pistons restricted free agent center Jalen Duren "had a productive meeting" with the Lakers on Tuesday and was "scheduled to meet with them again on Wednesday morning."

Kessler was also a restricted free agent, but he and the Jazz struggled to come to terms. ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported that Utah put an offer worth roughly $140 million over five years on the table, but "a gulf" remained between the two sides.

Since arriving to the NBA as the 22nd pick in the 2022 draft, Kessler has blossomed into one of the league's top rebounders and shot blockers. He was limited to just five games in 2025-26 due to season-ending shoulder surgery, but he showed he can be a consistent source of production with averages of 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals. He shot 70.3 percent from the field and connected on six of his eight three-pointers, which matched his career-high for three-pointers made in an entire season.

The Lakers are moving in a new direction after star forward LeBron James informed the team that he intends to sign elsewhere this summer. ESPN's Dave McMenamin previously reported that star point guard Luka Doncic "made one roster preference clear" to Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick.

"Luka's first and foremost desire is an A-list center," a source told McMenamin.

The Lakers listened to their new face of the franchise and acquired Kessler, who should make things easier for Doncic and fit nicely as a rim protector and pick-and-roll finisher. The additions of Mamukelashvili, Grimes and Sexton also add to Los Angeles' depth as the team tries to contend for a title next season.