Before next season starts, the Los Angeles Lakers have to make at least one more move. They have too many players on their roster, and at least one of them needs to be cut or traded. Well, one of the top candidates to be moved seems to be Dalton Knecht. And based on the way the summer is shaking out, the Sacramento Kings could be a prime destination.
Sacramento doesn’t have much going for it right now. The Kings just waived DeMar DeRozan, and it’s clear that they are taking on a rebuilding approach moving forward. Taking a chance on a guy like Knecht would be smart for them, and they have a TPE, so the Lakers wouldn’t have to take any players back in return.
Trading Knecht to the Kings feels like a move that could benefit both teams involved.
Lakers should trade Dalton Knecht to the Kings
Obviously, from the Lakers’ perspective, it’s certainly not ideal to be giving up on a player just two years into his NBA career. But the reality of the situation is that trading him makes the most sense.
LA has filled out its roster with pieces that it believes can best fit alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and now, Walker Kessler, too. Knecht clearly hasn’t shown enough to be part of that group.
The Lakers brought in guys like Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, and Quentin Grimes this summer to fill out the wing position. They also signed Collin Sexton and drafted Cameron Carr.
There’s just a lot of depth at Knecht’s position, and considering the Lakers specifically added all of those guys this summer, it feels like Knecht could fall even more out of favor than he already is.
The Kings have a TPE from their Dario Saric trade with the Chicago Bulls. They could take in Knecht’s contract without sending out any additional salary, and they have a roster spot they still need to fill before next season.
Knecht is still only 25 years old and just a couple of years into his NBA career. There’s a reason he was a first-round pick. He can clearly score the ball.
In Sacramento, there would be a ton of pressure taken off Knecht, as he wouldn’t really have to worry about competing for a title. For the time being, he could just focus on development.
The Lakers should really consider reaching out to the Kings to try to work out a Knecht trade.
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