Lakers Eyeing Trade for Star Jazz Big Man: Report originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ brutal five-game first round playoff series loss to the lower-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves laid bare a glaring issue for the franchise.
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Since trading 10-time All-Star center Anthony Davis, 32, as the centerpiece of a package for five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic, 26, Los Angeles has been woefully without a starting-caliber five man, or much interior defense at all.
L.A. head coach JJ Redick attempted to compensate for this with small-ball centers in the playoffs, but against four-time Defensive Player of the Year center Rudy Gobert and three-time All-Star power forward Julius Randle — plus the driving efforts of three-time All-Star shooting guard Anthony Edwards — the Lakers looked totally out-of-sorts.
Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Apparently, Los Angeles’ front office is very aware of this, and is now being linked to an oft-rumored potential trade partner: the Utah Jazz.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) is defended by Utah Jazz forward John Collins (20) and forward Lauri Markkanen (23) in the first quarter at Target Center.Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
During a new episode of the “Locked On Jazz” podcast, The Salt Lake Tribune’s Andy Larsen indicated that Los Angeles has actually been in talks with Utah about a deal for a less-heralded frontcourt standout.
“The Lakers-John Collins has been a conversation that’s been had. The Warriors were interested at the trade deadline before they got Jimmy Butler. I think, just contract-wise, that doesn’t work out anymore. He had a productive enough season last year that there should be interest in the league somewhere for him. I don’t expect the Jazz to get value back necessarily in those deals though.”
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Larsen adds that another frontcourt Utah standout, center Walker Kessler, has been discussed by these two teams.
“I think there’s been an offer presented for Walker Kessler,” Larsen said. “Certainly… the Lakers have shown significant interest all the way back to the trade deadline, certainly continuing now… [Los Angeles] giving up multiple picks to get there, that is on the table right now, I don’t know if the Jazz take it.”
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.