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The Los Angeles Lakers had Deandre Ayton at center last season, and his performance was inconsistent with the former first-round pick. That made it clear that Los Angeles needed to address the position this summer and find a more reliable big man. The Lakers went after the player they had been targeting for some time and ultimately got their guy. Los Angeles traded for Walker Kessler in a major deal with the Utah Jazz. “The Los Angeles Lakers started the process of remaking their roster in the wake of LeBron James' decision to leave with a blockbuster trade and a trio of free agency signings Wednesday. Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania that the Lakers are acquiring Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030," ESPN wrote. Acquiring Kessler has generated plenty of debate, particularly over how much the Lakers gave up to get him. NBA insider Zach Lowe believes Los Angeles overpaid and could now be stuck with limited flexibility for years. “There is no question that they overpaid for him and are now trapped with this team and have to figure out either this is the team or is there a way to pivot by trading Austin Reaves down the line or something like that because they're out of tradeable assets because of the Walker Kessler deal," Lowe said. "All that said, he's played no meaningful games in the NBA, basically, and barely played at all last year.” While Lowe's criticism is understandable, the Lakers ultimately accomplished their top priority. Waiting on other potential targets could have left the organization in a difficult position with no clear alternative. “Lowe is right. Kessler will need to justify the "overpay." What's simultaneously true, however, is that the Lakers avoided months of uncertainty and potential heartbreak by simply paying what they had to for the player they wanted and arguably needed. The Duren, Kuminga, and Watson sagas all prove how detrimental waiting for the right deal to magically appear could've been,” Lake Show Life’s Maxwell Ogden wrote. It is safe to say that acquiring Kessler was worth the cost because the Lakers secured the position they desperately needed to address. Had they continued waiting on those other options, there was a real possibility that they would have been left without a viable backup plan. After all, Los Angeles spent two months pursuing Jonathan Kuminga, only for him to ultimately sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Duren, Watson and Kuminga have made $78 million combined throughout their careers. If the Lakers had continued waiting for those players, they could have missed out on multiple opportunities without knowing whether another option would become available. Overpaying for Kessler has proved to be the safest move after watching everything unfold. More NBA news: Lakers reportedly expected to part ways with $48M defensive menace on expiring contract Lakers insider takes shot at ESPN's Shams Charania for protecting Clippers' Kawhi Leonard Timberwolves officially sign $48M ex-Warriors NBA champion to pair with Anthony Edwards Ex-Lakers' $71M swiss army knife has to regret decision to sign with Clippers over Spurs, Warriors