NBA Transaction Tracker: Kessler, Robinson, Vucevic the Latest Big Names On the Move

The NBA isn't slowing down, and there's enough notable moves over the past couple hours to do another transaction roundup.

Here, we will discuss some trades and free agent signings.

Check out our other trade and free agent signing stories too.

For the latest player updates, be sure to head to FantasySP to utilize the real-time player news engine for all sports. The player news engine is the most robust and fastest player news system in fantasy sports. Signing up for a FantasySP membership can help you track all your fantasy players.

Lakers Trade for Kessler

Los Angeles made a splash a day after LeBron James announced he wasn't coming back. The Lakers are getting Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz in exchange for unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030. 

The Lakers will be signing Kessler to a four-year deal worth $130 million.

Kessler only appeared in five games a season ago. Over his four-year career, he's emerged as a good big man. Kessler is a double-double threat anytime he takes the court, and now is in the best situation he's ever been in.

Kessler could star with the Lakers, and be a big-time focal point alongside Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Kessler will see his fantasy stock soar after this trade, and being on the Lakers could actually make his average draft position a bit too high.

Anyways, expect Kessler to be a great fantasy asset in 2026-27. He needs to stay healthy, but he has reason to play now that he's on a contender, so I'm not too worried about Kessler.

Kessler should start at center, which likely moves Deandre Ayton to the bench. Jarred Vanderbilt and Jake LaRavia are the projected starting forwards, while Doncic and Reaves are the guards. Rookie Cameron Carr, Maxi Kleber and Dalton Knecht are some notable names on the bench.

The starting lineup is a lot better with Kessler in it now, and it makes the team a bit better overall since it will likely move Ayton to the bench. The Lakers still need more depth if they want to make any serious noise in the Western Conference.

We'll see what else the Lakers do this offseason, but expect more notable moves in the days and weeks to come.

Robinson and Conley Joining Celtics

Mitchell Robinson is staying in the Eastern Conference, going from the Knicks to the Celtics. He signed for three years and $47.4 million - there's a player option in the third season. Mike Conley Jr. also signed with Boston, locking into a one-year pact.

Robinson has mostly come off the bench for New York over the past couple years. Injuries have derailed some seasons, but he's been a rebounding machine when healthy and active.

Robinson has a chance to start in Boston. He could come off the bench, but regardless of his role, I expect him to play enough to have fantasy relevance.

Neemias Queta is the team's other option at center right now. Luka Garza is there as well.

Chris Cenac Jr. was drafted, but could also work at power forward to get some minutes. Jordan Walsh is another forward option, and that's all behind starter Jayson Tatum.

Sam Hauser is the projected small forward starter, with Jaylen Brown there (for now) at shooting guard. Derrick White is the point guard. That starting five, with or without Robinson, is pretty good, and means the team should at least make the playoffs.

Add in some of the depth guys we mentioned, along with Payton Pritchard, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez and now Conley and the Celtics should be in the hunt for the Eastern Conference title.

Conley gives the Celtics a veteran guard to turn to, especially if they move off Brown eventually. Conley could carve out a big enough role to have some fantasy relevance, but likely just in deeper leagues (unless he's starting).

Robinson is the bigger fantasy asset between the two signed players. We'll see what else the Celtics do this offseason.

Vucevic Headed Back to Orlando; Carter Re-Signs

Nikola Vucevic signed a one-year deal worth $3.9 million to return to the Magic. Jevon Carter is back in Orlando on a one-year deal worth $3.5 million.

Vucevic spent nine years with Orlando before bouncing around the past few seasons. He is more a secondary option at this point of his career, but he's still a good fantasy asset.

Orlando has Wendell Carter Jr. for an option at center, and Vucevic joins the conversation now. Vuc should play enough to have fantasy relevance in a good amount of leagues.

Orlando also has Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs for starters. That's a good starting five, regardless of who is at center, and means the team should be in the playoffs no matter what.

Throw in Anthony Black, Jamal Cain, Tristan da Silva, Carter and other bench options and the Magic are one of the better teams in the East. I still think they are a player or two from being big-time contenders, but the Magic could still add those players this offseason.

Carter will be a depth guard option for the coming year. He's likely to be just a deep-league fantasy asset, but could surprise if he's ever starting, or logging heavy minutes off the bench.

Wagner Moving to Nets

Moritz Wagner is headed to Brooklyn on a two-year deal - it's worth $19 million. 

Wagner has spent a majority of his career in Orlando, but now has a new home. Injuries have held him to just 66 games over the past two years, but he could have some fantasy upside in Brooklyn.

Nicolas Claxton is no longer around, but the Nets re-signed Day'Ron Sharpe, and are likely to start him. Wagner could still earn enough reserve minutes to have some fantasy value.

Brooklyn isn't likely to be a very good team, and with so many young players around, a veteran like Wagner could surprise in his time there.