The Lakers’ frontcourt still has a loose end to tie up.
Los Angeles already made a major investment in Walker Kessler this summer, and that move paid off Wednesday night. Even so, there’s still a clear drop-off once Kevon Looney enters the game, which is why the team keeps looking for another center option.
According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, the Lakers are continuing to survey the market for big men. “The Lakers are still monitoring the market for big men, team sources told The Athletic," Woike reported.
"They traded for Walker Kessler and signed Kevon Looney to play center, and Mamukelashvili can play the position, too. The team could address the position either by trade or signing, like with potentially adding Thybulle.
The roster is currently at full capacity.”
Los Angeles also explored a possible move for Jericho Sims just last week. “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," Jake Fischer wrote on the Stein Line."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."
Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale has another name in mind: Dallas Mavericks forward PJ Washington.
“PJ Washington comes close to meeting that criterion. He fits like a glove next to Walker Kessler at the 5 when his three-ball is falling, and though he's not a defender who turns the water off, he can be moved up and down the matchup ladder. Head coach JJ Redick can even use him for backup-center tick when Kessler is catching a breather,” Favale wrote.
Washington wouldn’t arrive as a classic bruising center, but he does bring athleticism and enough frontcourt flexibility to matter. He also has Finals experience with Luka Doncic from their run with the Mavericks, which would give him a familiar connection to one of the Lakers’ biggest names.
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The Clippers, meanwhile, are heading into tomorrow night with a longer list of absences that will shape how they can match up across the floor. Bradley Beal, Brandon Ingram, Jordan Miller, Yanic Konan Niederhauser and Max Strus are all out, leaving them with some real roster questions before the teams even tip off. For a rivalry game that is supposed to provide an early read on the season, the missing bodies may end up being part of the story right away. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Let A Former First Round Pick Slip Into A Contenders Plans
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Now the focus has shifted to what comes next for Knecht, and the Lakers may not be the only team watching closely. Several clubs have already shown interest in signing him, including the Knicks, with a two-way contract emerging as a possible landing spot. For a player who entered the season with promise and then saw his role shrink, the next move could come quickly, and it will say plenty about how the rest of the league still values him. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers May Regret Letting Dalton Knecht Get Another NBA Chance
Dalton Knechts path back into the league did not take long to materialize after the Lakers moved on from him before the regular season. The former Los Angeles forward has now landed with the Knicks on a two-way NBA contract, and New York wasted little time making its interest known once he cleared waivers. For a player who was left searching for a landing spot, the move gives him another real shot to prove he belongs.
The Knicks are treating Knecht like more than a flyer, and that alone makes this one worth tracking for the Lakers. He is expected to compete for a role on New Yorks roster, which means this is not just a depth signing, but a chance for him to carve out a place with a team that pursued him aggressively. If he sticks, it will only sharpen the question of whether Los Angeles gave up on him a little too early. [Read more 🡒]