The Los Angeles Lakers don’t need a wake-up call to know the clock is ticking ahead of the trade deadline. They’ve been searching for the right piece to complement their core, and now, it looks like one of their young prospects may be ready to move on.
Dalton Knecht, the rookie guard with a promising scoring touch, reportedly no longer sees his future in purple and gold. That alone could be enough to nudge the Lakers toward making a move-especially if the return package includes a proven playoff-tested scorer like DeMar DeRozan.
In a hypothetical deal that’s making the rounds, the Lakers would send Knecht, Jake LaRavia, Rui Hachimura, and a 2030 first-round pick to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for the six-time All-Star forward. On paper, it’s a win-now move, and that’s exactly where the Lakers are trying to live.
DeRozan brings more than just name recognition. He’s an efficient, mid-range maestro with a knack for rising to the occasion in tight, half-court playoff battles. With seven years of postseason experience under his belt, he knows how to operate when the game slows down and every possession matters.
The Lakers, for all their top-end talent, have struggled to consistently generate offense in the half court-especially in crunch time. That’s where DeRozan could shine. His ability to create his own shot, draw fouls, and hit big buckets late in games would give L.A. another reliable option when defenses lock in and transition opportunities dry up.
Of course, integrating DeRozan into the current mix wouldn’t be seamless. When Austin Reaves returns from injury, the Lakers would have to navigate a crowded offensive hierarchy that already includes LeBron James and Luka Doncic. That’s a lot of ball-dominant playmakers, and the challenge will be finding the right balance without sacrificing rhythm or spacing.
But if any team can make it work, it’s one led by LeBron, who’s made a career out of adapting to different rosters and maximizing the talent around him. DeRozan’s improved three-point shooting-he’s hitting a career-high 34.3% from deep this season-adds another wrinkle to his game that could help him mesh with L.A.’s stars.
While DeRozan hasn’t been in the playoff spotlight since the 2021-22 season with Chicago-a short-lived run that ended in five games against Milwaukee-he’s still producing at a high level. Now with the Kings, a team languishing near the bottom of the Western Conference, he’s averaging 19.2 points per game on a highly efficient 50.6% shooting clip. That’s not just solid production-it’s the kind of consistency that contenders crave down the stretch.
The Lakers don’t have the luxury of waiting for young players to develop or for chemistry to magically click. They’re in win-now mode, and if a player like DeRozan becomes available at a reasonable price, it’s a move worth serious consideration. His mid-range game, leadership, and playoff experience could be the missing piece that helps L.A. make a real push come spring.
The question now is whether the opportunity-and the timing-will line up.