The Lakers have been linked to Utah center Walker Kessler and Detroit’s Jalen Duren, but both are restricted free agents, meaning any offer the Lakers present could be matched by each player’s current team. If a restricted free agent gets an offer sheet from a new team during the negotiating period from June 30 to July 6 during which players can discuss but not sign new deals, their original team has until 8:59 p.m. PDT on July 7 to match. During that moratorium period, the new team must maintain enough salary cap room for the offer sheet, presenting a potential risk for the Lakers if they flirt with restricted free agents because they could lose out on other potential free agents during that multi-day waiting period.
Duren, 22, is coming off the best regular season of his career, averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds and earning All-NBA third-team honors. But he did not live up to the billing during the postseason, averaging only 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds while the top-seeded Pistons were eliminated in the conference semifinals.
The 7-2 Kessler missed most of last season because of a shoulder injury. Two seasons ago, Kessler averaged 11.1 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 blocks while leading the NBA with 4.6 offensive rebounds per game.
Denver guard Peyton Watson is another restricted free agent who was connected to the Lakers. The UCLA alumnus could be an ideal fit on the perimeter for a team desperate for defense, athleticism and shooting, but he struggled with injuries last season and could return to the Nuggets, where he won a championship in 2023.
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