Los Angeles Lakers Top Free Agent Target Walker Kessler, Lakers Walker Kessler free agency, Lakers Peyton Watson free agency, Lakers projected cap space, Lakers news,
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The Los Angeles Lakers continue to be linked to the top free agent targets this offseason, and will have the salary cap space to sign them.
The Los Angeles Lakers are prioritizing cap space and flexibility for the upcoming offseason. While that might be a bit easier said than done, the teamis expected to target a few big names in the free agent market this summer.
One of those names is Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, a big man the Lakers havebeen linked to for a long time.While they previously made an attemptat trading for Kessler earlier in the season, there is an expectationnow that the team will heavily target therim-protector this summer, according to multiple sources.
Most recently, NBA insider Evan Sidery confirmed that there is ‘significant buzz‘around the Lakers targeting Kessler as a free agent this summer.
Evan Sidery
There is significant buzz building around the Lakers preparing to aggressively pursue Walker Kessler in free agency.
Armed with cap space to make a lucrative offer sheet to Kessler, teams wonder if the Jazz will ultimately match a figure well above their preferred price range.
“There is significant buzz building around the Lakers preparingto aggressively pursue Walker Kessler in free agency,”he wrote in a post on X. “Armed with cap space to make a lucrative offer sheet to Kessler, teams wonder if the Jazz will ultimately match a figure well above their preferred price range.”
The Jazz chose not to offer Kessler a contract extension earlier this season andis set to become a restricted free agent this offseason as he is in the last year of his four-year, $13.3 million rookie deal.
Lakers Linked To Walker Kessler In Free Agency
While the buzz surrounding the Lakers targeting Kesslerisn’t anything new, news about Los Angeles going after one of theleague’s best shot blockers was relatively quiet afterit was reported that Utah had no plans of moving him at the trade deadline.
However, after the team made a trade for Jaren Jackson Jr. at the deadline, the rumors about himbeing moved over the offseason have heated up once again. Along withSidery’s report, Tim McMahon and Brian Windhorst ofESPN’sThe Hoop Collective podcast named the Lakers as a realistic landing spot for Kessler.
It would require the Lakers to match the contractUtah would be able to offer, but with their projected potential cap space of anywhere from $48 million to $55 million, they could offer a substantial deal.
“Restricted free agency sucks,”Windhorst said. “Butthere’s one narrow lane on the far left of the highway. Ifyou’re deemed a ‘gettable’restricted free agent — meaning teams believe your current teamcan’t match — you can sometimes get way overpaid.”
Kessler is currently out for the rest of the season after suffering a shoulder injury and undergoing subsequent surgery in early November.While hemight not have the strongest recent resume for a team like the Lakers tolook at, his shot-blocking and overall defensive ability remain top-notch and highly sought after.
“Therearen’t a whole lot of traditional free-agent races anymore, the way to do things now is you trade for the guy, then you extend him,”one GM said to Sean Deveney of Heavy Sports. “But the situation with (Kessler) is different–you’ve got teams with needs and cap space, ready to give a big offer, you have got the Jazz trying to manage their own situation. Soit’s really wide open.”
Lakers Have Eyes For Another Top Free Agent Target In Peyton Watson
Along with Kessler, whose name has been in the same sentence as the Lakers for the past few months, Los Angeles has been linked to another one of theleague’s potential top free agent targets this summer, that beingPeyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets.
Watson has been having the best season of his careerwith the numerous injuries Denver has dealt with this season, and in the last year of his four-year, $11.2 million rookie deal,he’ll also be a restricted free agent this offseason.
“Restricted free agency is trickier for a team such as the Lakers thatcan’t afford to wait out the matching period, but Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson — an L.A.-area native who played atUCLA — might be gettable via sign-and-trade because ofDenver’s tax situation,”ESPN’s Kevin Pelton wrote.
On his podcast, Windhorst also addressed the possibility of the Lakers going out and landing Watson, who could be their starting small forward next season, as the Nuggetswon’t have enough money to pay him what his market valueis expected to demand.
“I would say Peyton Watson is trying to get into that lane in Denver,”Windhorst said. “Ifyou’re a Lakers fan thinking about how to use cap space,that’s a guy to watch.”
I think getting one *might* be doable, but I’m dubious. You have $50 million or so in space (maybe there’s a Vando dump, maybe Smart and Ayton opt out, but 50 is the rough starting point). I don’t think a $25ish million starting point steals either. Would have to overpay one. https://t.co/ezpBvXrf9V
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) February 12, 2026
If or when LeBron James leaves, the Lakersare expected to give Austin Reaves a near-max contract extension to pair him with Luka Doncic for the next few years. But besides those two, the rest of LosAngeles’ roster is relatively uncertain.
The front office has made it clear they are focusing on players that would fit well with that star duo, and while it remains tobe seen what movesthey’ll actually make, Kessler and Watson are two names to keep an eye on.