The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly in full-blown trade talks to ship out Dalton Knecht, a guy who just last season was considered a potential Rookie of the Year candidate, in a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks for big man Jericho Sims. This move is happening before Wednesday’s deadline, a real scramble to keep Knecht from being waived and the Lakers on the hook for part of his salary.
From Rookie Hype to Trade Bait: What’s the Deal with Knecht?
Can you believe this? The Lakers were “once excited” to draft Knecht, and he even got off to a “scorching start” during his rookie season. Seriously, “potential Rookie of the Year candidate” was tossed around. But man, “things have quickly changed.” Now, he is on the block as part of a “consolidation trade,” according to Lakers insider Jovan Buha. Buha mentioned a “two-for-one” scenario, maybe even Knecht and Jaden Hardy for a backup center. It is pretty wild how fast a player’s stock can drop when the team’s plans shift. The Lakers are clearly trying to offload him and get some roster flexibility, or at least a different piece.
Bucks Enter the Chat: The Knecht-Sims Swap
The specific talks heating up are between the Lakers and the Bucks, with reports from NBA insider Jake Fischer in The Stein Line detailing “exploratory trade discussions.” The framework being floated is pretty clear: Dalton Knecht, plus some “second-round draft capital,” would head to Milwaukee in exchange for Jericho Sims. Los Angeles needs “additional depth at center,” especially with worries about Walker Kessler or Kevon Looney potentially getting injured. Meanwhile, the Bucks are “seemingly entering a rebuilding phase,” so getting a former first-round pick with potential, even if it has been a bumpy start, makes sense for them. This deal could be a win for both sides, helping them fill roles during the season. Other teams like the Grizzlies and Hornets have been sniffing around for trades too, with the Hornets apparently weighing the locker room value of keeping Pat Connaughton.
The clock is ticking for the Lakers to finalize this deal before Wednesday. Can they pull off the trade and bring in the center depth they clearly need, or will Knecht end up on waivers? It is going to be a tense few days as these final roster decisions loom large!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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