Walker Kessler trade grades: Lakers get Luka Dončić some young talent
Resolution has been reached in regard to the future of Walker Kessler, the 7-foot-2, 245-pound behemoth with game-changing defensive powers.
Kessler is now a Los Angeles Laker, joining Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, after agreeing to a sign-and-trade with the Utah Jazz worth $130 million over four years.
AdvertisementAdvertisementLet's get down to the nuts and bolts of it.
The Los Angeles Lakers: Young center for Luka
To lock in Kessler, the Lakers relinquished a haul of draft picks.
Two unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 with swaps in 2028 and 2030 going to Utah.
The Lakers now get their center of the future, as well as a player who can finish lobs and become an all-around play finisher for Dončić and Reaves, who are at their best when creating with the ball in their hands.
It was a steep price, both in terms of draft capital and the contract, but this gives the Lakers a good chance to go far in the postseason.
Grade: A
The Utah Jazz: All about the draft picks
For Utah, this all seemed inevitable. Kessler and the Jazz never seemed to agree on their financial future together, and with the Jazz trading for Jaren Jackson Jr. before the deadline, those minutes at center were likely going to have to be shared.
Now, the Jazz can arm themselves with even more draft picks and lean into building their current roster, using those picks either through the draft or via the trade market.
It's still a considerable loss, especially since Jackson and Lauri Markkanen are both awful rebounders, but at least the organization secured Jusuf Nurkić's services, allowing him to swoop in to crash the glass.
Overall, this is a good haul. Both teams won.
Grade: A
Don’t forget San Diego’s July 4 fiasco — then vote the bums out
Don't forget SD's July 4 fiasco — then vote the bums out- US News
- World News
- Page Six
- Sports
- Post Sports+
- Sports Betting
- Business
- Opinion
- Entertainment
- Shopping
- Lifestyle
- Health
- Real Estate
- Alexa
- Media
- Tech
- Science
- Astrology
- Video
- Photos
- Pod Force One
- NY POSTcast
Switch between CA and NY editions here.
EditionRecommended
Skip to main content OpinionDon’t forget San Diego’s July 4 fiasco — then vote the bums out
By CA Post Editorial Board Published July 1, 2026, 9:57 p.m. ETSee more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The California Post on GoogleRipped from the headlines of the satirical Babylon Bee:
A DEI extravaganza to mark the 250th birthday of the USA!
Oh wait.
That’s not the Bee; it’s actually a thing: San Diego County plans an identity-politics spectacular this July 4.
Wanna go?
5
5
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted this year to align the county’s Independence Day event with “equity and racial justice” goals.
Per a social media post from the mayor of El Cajon, the three-hour program will feature: a “tribal intimate blessing welcoming to land”; a tribal invocation; the American and black national anthems; local tribal community stories; Latino community stories; Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community stories; LGBTQIA+ community stories; and black and African community stories.
Whew. It’s exhausting just to read about.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn
California Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X
California Post Opinion
California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!
California Post App: Download here!
Home delivery: Sign up here!
Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!
But more to the point: all of this … on July 4 of America’s 250th year? What message does the county of San Diego mean to send?
Not one that elevates fun, family, unity, respect, gratitude and patriotism — traditional Independence Day fare.
Instead, the county stoops to woke pandering.
5
Extolling favored groups on the nation’s birthday is e pluribus unum in reverse: ex uno, plura.
It’s divisive. It’s ill-timed. And it’s disrespectful to the nation, to its founding values and to the US Armed Forces who have fought and sometimes died to guard the rights the grievance crowd takes for granted.
In the very recent past, Americans of all stars and stripes could agree on some things, including the Fourth of July and its fun family patriotic fare.
Sign up for the California Morning Report newsletter
California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.
Thanks for signing up!
Remember the iconic jingle, “We love baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet?”
Those were days when Americans united around major holidays, around a shared heritage of freedom and around pride in a country that’s the freest in the world.
No longer.
5
These days, the scolds can’t be satisfied, the socialists win elections from New York to Colorado (unthinkable not long ago) and divisive Fourth of July programs emerge in once-moderate places like San Diego County.
Increasingly, elected officials want to shove a thumb in the eye of the nation, its founding, its traditions and its glory.
Enough.
Note to the radicals who rush to tear America down on perhaps its most cherished holiday:
Stop being petulant about losing national elections.
5
Love your country even if you don’t love its current leader.
Teach, respect and appreciate the values of 1776: liberty, individual rights, equality, limited government and the rule of law.
Ditch the woke bilge and restore the picnics, US flags and fireworks.
Restore e pluribus unum.
Skip the lecture series and let the people have fun.
And a bonus memo to San Diego County voters: Remember this farce next election.
Just maybe, in another grand American tradition, you’ll do this:
Throw the bums out.
Filed under Read Next LA pulls noncitizen voting — but it will be backTrending Now on NYPost.com
-
This story has been shared 70,706 times.
70,706
Grandma suspected of fatally poisoning daughter; grandkids remembered in stone-cold 2-line obit
-
This story has been shared 48,579 times.
48,579
Heartbroken dad reveals tragic last call as daughter bled out from horrific alligator mauling in Florida
-
This story has been shared 43,444 times.
43,444
76ers acquiring Jaylen Brown from Celtics for Paul George, four draft picks in NBA blockbuster
Most Commented Join the conversation
-
This story has 3.7K comments.
3.7K
Supreme Court strikes down Trump birthright citizenship order in blow to president
-
This story has 2.1K comments.
2.1K
Trump issues dire warning about fate of Iran after punishing Islamic Republic for Strait of Hormuz attacks
-
This story has 1.7K comments.
1.7K
Supreme Court rules ballots arriving after Election Day can be counted, in win for Dems
Columnists
-
Karol Markowicz
Elon Musk is in the rabid left’s crosshairs — but he’s not the true target
-
Lydia Moynihan
China’s playing dirty in the AI arms race — and Americans appear to be helping them change US minds
-
Steve Cuozzo
The skyscraper could only be born in America
See All Columnists
Image gallery
More Stories
Page Six
Exact schedule of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s 10-hour MSG wedding revealed
Decider
Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Summer ‘36’ On Netflix, A Complex Mystery That Takes Place After A Prosecutor Is Murdered At A Swanky Resort In Nice
NYPost
Grandma suspected of fatally poisoning daughter; grandkids remembered in stone-cold 2-line obit
© 2026 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved Terms of Use Subscription Terms Privacy Notice SitemapYour California Privacy Rights
