El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers player Dalton Knecht (4) during media day at UCLA Health Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Amid rampant summer reports that Dalton Knecht’s time with the Lakers may be coming to an end, NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake L. Fischer say Los Angeles has approached the Milwaukee Bucks to explore a potential trade for backup big man Jericho Sims.
“League sources say that the Lakers and Bucks have held exploratory trade discussions on a framework that would ship former first-round selection Dalton Knecht to Milwaukee (along with second-round draft capital) in exchange for big man Jericho Sims,” they wrote in their latest Substack.
“Yet it must be said that I’ve also heard some pessimism from sources briefed on those talks that such a trade will actually go through,” they further added.
With each passing preseason fixture, it’s become increasingly clear that Dalton Knecht has lost a place in the Lakers’ rotation heading into the regular season.
Over four preseason games, Knecht played only 40 minutes combined, including a DNP against the Kings in their third fixture. In those three appearances, he averaged 3.7 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 0.7 assists while shooting 3-for-11 from the field (27.3% FG) and 1-for-8 from the three-point line (12.5% 3P).
Jericho Sims is a 6’10” big man who has played in four preseason games so far this year, where he has averaged 4.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while shooting 8-for-11 from the field (72.7% FG).
With Myles Turner and Kel’el Ware, Sims will likely see limited action in Milwaukee. So a move to the Lakers could benefit Sims.
The Lakers currently have 16 standard contracts on their roster. They must waive a player before the regular season tips off, as they can only carry 15 standard contracts during the season.
Knecht is a former first-round pick who hasn’t settled into the franchise since the Lakers rescinded the trade that sent him to the Hornets for Mark Williams. Given Knecht’s lackluster performance, the Lakers now have to add draft capital to the package to offload his contract.
Moreover, the Lakers are reportedly exploring the market for a reliable backup big man, as concerns grow that Kevon Looney may not be a consistent rotation player. The Mavericks’ big man, Daniel Gafford, has often come up in these rumors, given his relationship with Luka Doncic (former teammates who went to the NBA Finals together).
If the Lakers can’t find a suitable trade destination for Knecht amid the apparent pessimism about the Jericho Sims trade, they may also waive the former first-round pick to complete their 15-man roster on opening night. But if the trade goes through, the next likely candidate to be waived is Bronny James.
Meanwhile, Jarred Vanderbilt is the next most likely candidate the Lakers will trade. Regardless, the ball is now in the Lakers’ front office’s court to decide whether to push for a trade or to waive a player ahead of opening night.
It remains to be seen what the Lakers’ front office decides. We are less than a week away from opening night against the Warriors at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena. So Dalton Knecht’s future with the team will likely be decided in that time.