Lakers' new big man fires back at the team's biggest question mark

While many analysts point to defense as one of the main weaknesses of the Los Angeles Lakers heading into the new season, Walker Kessler sees things very differently. The team’s new center believes the franchise has the pieces needed to become one of the best defensive units in the NBA .

“I think we’re gonna be a nasty defensive team. I’m just being honest. Seeing these guys hound the ball on the perimeter,” Kessler said following Lakers practice. “And I think that Loon’s [Kevon Looney] mind, his position on defense is elite too. We’re gonna be really good defensively. We have a lot of defensive tools.”

Kessler’s arrival addresses one of the Lakers’ biggest needs : protecting the paint. Since his college days, the big man has been recognized as one of the league’s top shot blockers, and aside from last season, when he suffered a shoulder injury that ended his campaign, he has never averaged fewer than two blocks per game in the NBA .

The center believes his impact will be even greater thanks to the defensive talent around him. During the offseason, Los Angeles focused on adding youth, speed, and athleticism on the perimeter with players such as Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Quentin Grimes, and Collin Sexton.

“I think people aren’t taking into account how good our perimeter defense is going to be with some of these guys. I’m just being completely honest,” Kessler explained. “I think that a lot of the guys are very smart on the perimeter … can play really good defense. We’ve got guys that are ball hawks, that just hound the ball. So I don’t think people have taken that into account much.”

Kessler also pointed out that the intensity of his teammates will make his job easier in the paint.

“It makes my job easier, no question. Having those guys that can steal the ball, but not only that, when they do get beat, being able to recover, it makes my job a lot easier. It’s a lot easier to block a shot when a player has someone on his hip instead of an open lane toward the basket.”

Head coach JJ Redick has also been impressed with the defensive energy his players have shown during training camp.

“Our group of wings is deep. We met with them last week about what their assignment is, and they understood the assignment,” Redick said following Lakers practice on Sept. 29 .

With Kessler anchoring the paint and a revamped perimeter defense, the Lakers are looking to turn a perceived weakness into one of their biggest strengths heading into the new season.