Lakers-Pelicans trade pitch sees Los Angeles cut ties with $18 million guard who asked to be traded

The Los Angeles Lakers have no reason to retain players who no longer want to compete with the organization, as it’s pointless in every way imaginable. 

Why hold them hostage instead of finding them a new home and giving them the best possible chance to be successful in the NBA?

Take the Lakers’ declining $18 million wing, Dalton Knecht, for instance. According to Lakers insider Anthony Irwin, the former second-round pick met with the higher-ups in the organization and ‘asked to be traded’ before the Feb. 5 deadline. 

Although Knecht ultimately remained with Los Angeles, NBA reporter Evan Sidery believes the world where the Lakers move on from the Tennessee product this summer via a trade to the New Orleans Pelicans.

“A legal framework trade the Lakers can offer on draft night for a win-now upgrade,” Sidery wrote on X/Twitter Monday. “LA receives: Herb Jones + Yves Missi. New Orleans receives: Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia, No. 25 overall, 2031 1st.”

Knecht and the Lakers would both be deemed winners of Sidery’s hypothetical trade pitch. For Los Angeles, acquiring Jones and Missi would help improve Los Angeles’ perimeter/interior defense, while Knecht joining New Orleans would allow him to start fresh in a small market that’s more inclined to rebuild than quickly enter win-now mode. 

Knecht averaged 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds with the Lakers this season, shooting 45.5% from the field and 34.2% from long-range in 54 contests while spending time in the G-League for the second straight campaign. 

If Los Angeles knows what’s best for them, they’ll work to offload Knecht this offseason.

More NBA news:

• Rockets predicted to swap ex-Lakers disgruntled forward for $285 million Celtics star

• Lakers rumor is good news for Luka Doncic, bad news for LeBron James

• Lakers predicted to cut ties with Dalton Knecht, acquire $175 million two-time MVP