The Lakers need some help. Lately, Anthony Davis and LeBron James have shouldered most of the load, but that approach is starting to hurt the LA side. Their lack of depth, combined with injuries to both stars, has put Jeanie Buss’ team in a tough spot. To fix this, they may need to pull the trigger on a trade for another big name or several key players to bolster their roster.

A team they could look to deal with is the Utah Jazz. With the Jazz deep in their rebuild, they might be willing to trade some pieces that could help the LA side. Ex-Celtics champ, Kendrick Perkins, reveals the Jazz has 2 players that the Lakers could use. No, none of them are Lauri Markkanen. “Sexton and Kessler are the pieces that the Lakers need. I wonder if Pelinka see it,” Big Perk wrote on X.

If the Lakers manage to trade this young duo, they’ll gain a strong defensive presence in the paint and a top-tier wing scorer to complement LeBron James and AD. Sounds like a win-win, right?

Kessler, just 22 years old, has a lot of potential and whose contract is worth $13.4 million. This season, he’s already making waves, averaging 10.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. He’s proving he can be a defensive force and a major asset in the paint.

Sexton, 25, is also showing his scoring ability, averaging 17 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists early in the season. Known for his ability to light up the scoreboard, he’d get plenty of opportunities to do just that in LA. His contract worth about $71 million is still valid.

So, if the Lakers made this trade, they’d ideally send D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and some draft picks to Utah in exchange for Walker Kessler and Collin Sexton. While this move might not catapult the JJ Redick-led side to being instant title favorites, it would certainly bolster their depth and give them more weapons, as they aim for another championship run with LeBron James at the helm.

Who else are the LA Lakers eyeing for a trade?

The Lakers are reportedly eyeing a backup center upgrade, but there’s talk they might also be looking for perimeter help. According to Jake Fischer from Bleacher Report, Memphis Grizzlies’ small forward Marcus Smart could be an interesting trade target for the Los Angeles side this season. Fischer said during a recent livestream. “Marcus Smart is someone who in theory could fit into that D’Angelo Russell, Jalen Hood-Schifino type of package.”

Defense on the perimeter has been a growing issue for the Lakers. With Gabe Vincent the only healthy, reliable wing defender and Jarred Vanderbilt recovering from foot surgery, Los Angeles has struggled to guard the perimeter. Smart, the 2022 DPOY, hasn’t had the smoothest start to his 2024-25 campaign, but he’s been more assertive in looking out for the offense than Vincent.

Smart’s stats this season aren’t eye-popping—he’s averaging 10 points, 4.3 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 0.5 blocks across 11 games—but he’s played a key role in the Grizzlies’ solid 14-7 start. The hoopster’s shooting splits are .380/.320/.857, still decent enough to add value to any NBA team in need of perimeter defense.

What trades would you have done for the LA Lakers? Let us know below.