The Lakers still have work to do, and Dalton Knecht keeps coming up as the name most likely to move.
Los Angeles has already had a busy offseason, but the roster is not set. The team is bringing back only two starters from last season’s opening group, so there’s still a real adjustment ahead. Even after a summer that has gone well overall, the Lakers continue to explore ways to keep adding.
One of the clearest signs is that they have been shopping both Jarred Vanderbilt and Knecht. NBA reporter Evan Sidery reported in July that the Lakers were looking to turn their extra assets into help on the wing.
“The Lakers are actively shopping Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt in trade talks. After gaining two second-round picks in the Deandre Ayton trade, Los Angeles could consolidate those assets in a deal immediately for a starting-caliber wing,” NBA reporter Evan Sidery wrote in July.
There’s also a roster crunch to sort out. Los Angeles is one player over the limit, which means someone has to go before everything is finalized. Lakers insider Jovan Buha thinks Knecht is the most likely odd man out.
“It doesn't really matter from a financial perspective unless you're waiving someone who's got additional years. So, I guess it's a competition between Bronny, Jaden Hardy, and Dalton Knecht.
I think I'd probably lean Dalton," Buha said." If any of the other wings get injured, it's just play one of the other wings more minutes, and it's not put Dalton in the rotation.
So, he's the one that's the most expendable."
That opens the door to a bigger move, and Heavy.com’s Adel Ahmad has floated one. In his proposed three-team deal involving the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons, the Lakers would land Sam Hauser, Gary Harris and two second-round picks in 2028, with one of those picks coming via Detroit. Boston would get Jake LaRavia and Knecht, while Detroit would take on Jarred Vanderbilt.
“In a proposed trade involving the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons, the Lakers get Sam Hauser, Gary Harris and two second round picks in 2028 (one via DET). The Boston Celtics Jake LaRavia and Dalton Knecht, while the Pistons land defensive ace Jarred Vanderbilt,” Ahmad wrote.
Hauser would be the headliner for Los Angeles. With Luka Doncic in the mix, the Lakers could give one of the NBA’s best perimeter shooters a steady stream of clean looks, and that kind of floor spacing matters. Harris would add another piece, while the extra picks would sweeten the return.
The appeal for the Lakers is simple: they would turn three contracts into a cleaner, more useful mix of depth and shooting. Hauser gives them an elite outside threat without needing the ball much, which is a different kind of fit than Klay Thompson, another player the Lakers have shown interest in.
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