If early reports hold true, the Los Angeles Lakers are going to need to essentially recreate the structure of the Mark Williams trade to add a starting center. It's an unfortunate development, but the Lakers have seemingly been backed into yet another corner.
The upside is that the potentially required cost of doing business is technically affordable, but the downside is that it could cost one of Lakers fans' favorite players.
Los Angeles thought it'd found its franchise center in February when it landed Mark Williams in a deal with the Charlotte Hornets. That trade infamously fell through, however, and the Lakers have thus found themselves facing the potential need to repeat history.
According to Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times, rival executives believe the Lakers' best assets are Dalton Knecht, their 2031 first-round draft pick, and a group of expiring contracts.
Moreover, a combination of those assets is believed to be required in a trade for a center.
“According to rival scouts and executives, the Lakers best’ assets (minus Reaves) are their 2031 first-round pick, second year wing Dalton Knecht and a bunch of expiring contracts. Some combination of them would be a must in any deal the team would make for a center.”
Unfortunately, it's hard to envision a scenario in which the Lakers avoid giving up those very pieces to land a starting-caliber center.
Rival execs eyeing Dalton Knecht, 2031 first-round pick in Lakers trades
Giving up Knecht would be difficult to stomach after just one season in Los Angeles. He was the best scorer among the second unit, leading the team in points per game and points per 36 minutes, as well as three-point field goals made on per-game and per-36 bases.
Unfortunately, that's likely the very reasons teams around the Association are eyeing Knecht as a player who can break out with more minutes made available to him.
The numbers support that belief, as Knecht finished his rookie season averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 3.1 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes. He maintained an impressive level of efficiency, shooting at a clip of .461/.376/.762.
For perspective: The only qualified rookie who posted a better eFG% than Knecht was Zach Edey, who's 7'4" and attempted just 52 three-point field goals.
In addition to losing a promising youn scorer, the Lakers are seemingly being asked to part with a future first-round draft pick. 2021 may be six years away, but it's worth noting that Los Angeles will already be without first-round selections in 2025, 2027, and 2029.
Losing a fourth first-round draft pick between 2025 and 2031 would be difficult to justify for anything other than a guaranteed great fit.
The upside is that intriguing options exist in the realm of speculation, including players such as Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets, Daniel Gafford of the Dallas Mavericks, and Nick Richards of the Phoenix Suns. The downside is that anything less than a multi-year success story could prove this deal wasteful.
One can only hope that Rob Pelinka comes up with a creative solution that improves the Lakers' present without sacrificing the future.