Lakers Sign Quentin Grimes to 4-Year, $60 Million Deal

Q: After spending $79 million on new guards, who is the elite center the Lakers will now pursue for Luka?

The Lakers’ most likely next target is **Walker Kessler**, with **Jalen Duren** also firmly in the mix. After committing $79 million to Collin Sexton and Quentin Grimes, Los Angeles still appears focused on Luka Dončić’s stated priority: an “A-list center” who can rim-run, finish lobs, rebound and protect the paint. Among the names tied most directly to that need, Kessler stands out as the cleaner fit. He is widely viewed as an elite rim protector, posted top-tier paint-defense numbers, and has been repeatedly identified as a strong Lakers match. Duren is the other major option. He has been described in the reporting as an All-Star and All-NBA-level big with the athletic profile Dončić wants next to him. If Detroit hesitates on a max commitment, the Lakers have the cap flexibility to test that with an offer sheet. Other names mentioned around the Lakers’ center search include Isaiah Hartenstein, Mitchell Robinson, Robert Williams III and Nic Claxton, but the reporting most strongly points to **Kessler and Duren** as the headline pursuits. So, if the question is who the Lakers will now pursue for Luka after spending heavily on guards, the best answer is **Walker Kessler — with Jalen Duren as the other elite alternative**.

3 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · Jul 1

$60 million over four years gives Los Angeles another backcourt addition, with 26-year-old Quentin Grimes joining the Lakers in free agency.
Grimes is expected to fit alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, bringing perimeter defense and catch-and-shoot spacing after hitting 38.3% of those 3-pointers last season.
In 19 starts for Philadelphia, Grimes averaged 16.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists, offering the Lakers a two-way guard who can take tough defensive assignments.
The move extends a busy Lakers spending spree that also included Collin Sexton on a two-year, $19 million deal as Los Angeles reshapes its roster.