​HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 16: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first quarter of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on March 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) GettyNEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 23: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on October 23, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)The Los Angeles Lakers made one move that had more meaning behind it than the rest. That decision started and ended with making Luka Doncic happy. Now, it is up to Doncic to bring the best out of not only his new teammate, but himself, too.The Lakers started July with a bang. Maybe that bang will go down one day as the move that was the spark for the magical Luka Doncic era. Are we putting that much onto the shoulders of new Lakers big man Walker Kessler? Yes, yes we are. Heck, what star-caliber Lakers big man hasn’t had enormous shoes to fill anyway?L.A.’s move for Kessler — a sign-and-trade that saw the Lakers surrender the most draft picks for a non-All-Star in NBA history — has drawn numerous opinions, and there’s no middle ground. Depending on whom you ask, the Lakers either made a brilliant move or one that will derail their future. Now, it is time for Kessler to show what he is made of on one of the hottest stages in all of sports. Kessler Could Give the Lakers an ‘Unstoppable’ Luka DoncicGettyNEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 23: Walker Kessler #24 of the Utah Jazz reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on October 23, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
No one will argue that Kessler is in Los Angeles for any reason other than Doncic, the man long hailed for his ability to bring out the best in his forward and center teammates. The Athletic’s Tony Jones believes Kessler is not only a worthy investment for the Lakers, but also someone who will truly elevate Doncic.“They’re paying him to set screens and roll down the lane and provide a real outlet for Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic,” Jones told Lakers reporter Jovan Buha during an appearance on “Buha’s Block.” “And Doncic plays his best when he has a rim-running center. When he had Dereck Lively (II) and Daniel Gafford in Dallas, Luka Doncic was close to unstoppable because he had that outlet. As good as he has been with the Lakers, he wasn’t on that level, on the Dallas level, because he didn’t have that rim-running center. He didn’t have that guy he could just throw the ball up to. Now, with Walker Kessler, he does have that guy.” Kessler, 25, has averaged a steady 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per