Walker Kessler’s defense is a bigger part of his game than the box score usually shows. One of the best examples came against Nikola Jokić. Kessler has the size, length and mobility to actually make Jokić work for his touches without immediately giving up position. In their eight career matchups, Kessler has averaged 2.0 blocks per game, and Utah’s film from those games shows why his value goes beyond simply chasing blocks. That’s exactly what the Lakers are betting on. Kessler is now in Los Angeles after averaging 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 2024-25, and his rim protection has consistently been his calling card. He’s an athletic 7-footer who can play high enough to challenge shots while still recovering back to the paint. And there’s an interesting connection with Luka Dončić. When Dallas paired Luka with a legitimate defensive center in 2024, everything changed. The Mavericks acquired Daniel Gafford at the trade deadline and already had Dereck Lively II, giving them a legitim...