Everything Rudy Gobert Trade Returned for Jazz After Lakers' Blockbuster Walker Kessler Deal

The Utah Jazz agreed to trade restricted free agent center Walker Kessler to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday for two unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033) and two first-round swaps (2028 and 2030), per ESPN's Shams Charania. Kessler will now sign a four-year, $130 million contract.

Utah once traded Kessler as part of a massive deal to the Minnesota Timberwolves for center Rudy Gobert in 2022.

The other players were Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Leandro Bolmaro and Jarred Vanderbilt.

The picks were as follows: 2023 unprotected first-rounder, 2025 unprotected first-rounder, 2027 unprotected first-rounder and a 2029 top-five protected first-rounder. There was also a 2026 first-round pick swap.

Now that the Jazz have traded Kessler, their return on the Gobert trade has grown even more. Here's a look at the full picture, per databallr.

• 2023 Minnesota first-rounder that turned into Keyonte George
• 2025 Minnesota first-rounder (Will Riley, who was later traded for Walter Clayton Jr.)
• 2026 pick swap that was not exercised
• 2027 Minnesota unprotected first-rounder
• 2028 Lakers first-round swap rights (via Walker Kessler trade)
• 2029 Minnesota top-five protected first-rounder
• 2030 Lakers first-round swap rights (via Walker Kessler trade)
• 2031 Lakers unprotected first-rounder (via Walker Kessler trade)
• 2033 Lakers unprotected first-rounder (via Walker Kessler trade)
• Jarred Vanderbilt and Malik Beasley, who were later traded for two second-round picks
• Patrick Beverley, who was traded to the Lakers for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson
• Leandro Bolmaro, who was waived after a buyout

Utah is in the midst of a massive rebuild after the end of the 2021-22 season, which signaled the final campaign of the Donovan Mitchell-Gobert era. The Jazz haven't made the playoffs or had a winning season since that year, and Utah has also won just 39 combined games over the last two campaigns.

However, there is hope in Salt Lake City, even with the team now parting ways with a young center who is strong on the glass and defense in Kessler.

Utah just added Darryn Peterson with the second overall pick in the NBA draft, bringing him to a team that also traded for Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., a two-time All-Star and three-time All-Defensive Team member, last season. Ace Bailey, the fifth overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft, averaged 20.3 PPG over his last 12 contests last season.

And then of course there's Lauri Markkanen, who just posted 26.7 PPG last season.

The Jazz need to figure out a long-term plan at center, although they have agreed to a two-year contract with double-double machine and 12-year veteran Jusuf Nurkić (10.9 PPG, 10.4 RPG).

Still, Utah has a treasure trove of picks and pick swaps to work with down the road and a mix of young and veteran talent on the roster now to turn the franchise around sooner than later.