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WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 30: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates in front of Jamir Watkins #5 of the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on January 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Lakers are already positioning the upcoming offseason as their first true opportunity to reshape the roster around new franchise cornerstone Luka Dončić, and early league intel suggests two restricted free agents could emerge as realistic targets.
NBA insiders have increasingly connected the Lakers to Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz and Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets, both of whom are expected to enter restricted free agency amid complicated financial backdrops for their current teams.
With cap flexibility and draft assets on hand, the Lakers are widely viewed as one of the few contenders capable of exploiting what insiders often describe as the narrowest — but most lucrative — pathway in restricted free agency.
Jazz, Kessler Headed Toward Tense Restricted Free Agency
GettyRui Hachimura of the Los Angeles Lakers drives past Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz.
Speaking on Wednesday on The Hoop Collective, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon described a widening gap between Utah and Kessler’s camp as extension talks stalled last offseason.
“The Jazz have a number in mind,” MacMahon said. “I think they’re comfortable in the $25 million per range. And Walker Kessler and his reps at CAA believe he is worth much more than that.”
MacMahon added that the situation is shaping up to be “a potentially very tense and extended restricted free agency process,” particularly as several external suitors have already fallen out of the market.
One such team was Indiana, which effectively exited the center market at the trade deadline after acquiring Ivica Zubac, thinning the field — but not eliminating leverage for teams with cap space.
Why Lakers Are Viewed as a Real Threat for Kessler
ESPN insider Brian Windhorst has repeatedly pointed to the Lakers as a logical landing spot, questioning whether Utah would realistically commit most of its available cap room to three frontcourt players.
The Jazz already have significant long-term money tied up in Jaren Jackson Jr. ($49 million annually) and Lauri Markkanen ($46.4 million), creating potential constraints even if Utah publicly signals a willingness to match offers.
“Restricted free agency sucks,” Windhorst said. “But there’s one narrow lane on the far left of the highway. If you’re deemed a ‘gettable’ restricted free agent — meaning teams believe your current team can’t match — you can sometimes get way overpaid.”
Windhorst included Kessler among the players who could fall into that category if the market pressures Utah’s financial ceiling.
Peyton Watson Also Emerging on Lakers’ Radar
GettyAustin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket against Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets.
Windhorst also identified Watson as another name Lakers fans should monitor closely.
“I would say Peyton Watson is trying to get into that lane in Denver,” Windhorst said, pointing to the Nuggets’ mounting payroll obligations and long-standing reluctance to live deep in the luxury tax.
“If you’re a Lakers fan thinking about how to use cap space, that’s a guy to watch.”
Watson’s name has surfaced repeatedly in Lakers-focused reporting. Dan Woike of The Athletic and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line have both previously linked Watson to Los Angeles as a potential offseason target.
Lakers’ Cap Space, Picks Fuel Offseason Flexibility
According to Spotrac cap analyst Keith Smith, the Lakers are projected to have $48.2 million in cap space — the most in the NBA — entering the offseason.
When combined with three tradable first-round picks, the Lakers are positioned to be aggressive as they build around Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Whether that aggressiveness ultimately lands Kessler, Watson, or another impact piece remains to be seen. But leaguewide, the message is already clear: the Lakers are expected to be one of the defining forces of the offseason market as the Dončić era officially begins.
Alder Almo is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in local and international media, including broadcast, print and digital. He previously covered the Knicks for Empire Sports Media and the NBA for Off the Glass. Alder is from the Philippines and is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey. More about Alder Almo
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