Lakers predicted to cut ties with Dalton Knecht, acquire $90 million Cavs All-Star in three-team trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Lakers are ‘actively exploring trade scenarios’ to give Luka Doncic more ammunition to work with in 2026-27.
It’s safe to ******* ume those trade scenarios will include struggling second-year guard Dalton Knecht, as all signs point to the Tennessee product departing Los Angeles this summer (earlier this offseason, NBA reporter Evan Sidery stated that the Lakers were attempting to find a trade suitor for Knecht, and the franchise recently drafted his potential replacement, Cameron Carr).
Judging by Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus’ recent three-team trade proposal involving Knecht and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 28-year-old All-Star center, he certainly agrees.
“The Lakers are scouring the free-agent and trade markets for a starting center,” Hughes wrote Saturday. (Deandre) Ayton filled the role relatively well, but he's not in the team's long-term plans. (Jarrett) Allen would be their upgrade, while accepting that now is the time to move on from James and build properly around (Luka) Doncic.”