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Dalton Knecht’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers should be finished after two lackluster seasons.
The former No. 17 overall pick no longer appears to be a part of Los Angeles’ long-term plans, as he was glued to the franchise's bench for a good portion of the year.
ClutchPoints’ Jedd Pagaduan shares the same sentiment, prompting him to include him in a hypothetical blockbuster deal for a 31–year-old two-time MVP.
"(Giannis) Antetokounmpo has been on the trade block for a while now, and it's clear that the Milwaukee Bucks are going nowhere fast in the next few years,” Pagaduan wrote Tuesday. “Meanwhile, Giannis has expressed a constant desire to compete for titles.”
“Perhaps teaming up with Doncic would give him that opportunity, although the Lakers are going to have to compete with other Antetokounmpo suitors and they may not have enough in the way of assets to pull off a trade of such magnitude.”
“Maybe the Lakers can catch lightning in a bottle twice and pair Doncic with one of the greatest superstars of this generation (Pagaduan’s trade idea would send Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, a 2026 LAL first-round pick, a 2031 and 2033 LAL unprotected first-round picks, and 2028, 2030, and 2032 LAL first-round pick swaps).”
There’s a reason why Austin Reaves isn’t the featured piece in Pagaduan’s mock trade. The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Dan Woike shocked fans on Tuesday by reporting that while the Lakers are expected to pursue Antetokounmpo this summer, they may have to do without using Reaves as an enticing trade chip.
The report indicated that Luka Doncic enjoys playing alongside Reaves in Los Angeles and doesn’t want the Lakers to disband their duo to land Antetokounmpo this summer. As a result, Knecht, Vanderbilt, and LaRavia are the primary assets the Lakers may be forced to use to win the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes.
It isn’t ideal, but it’s the most likely scenario given Doncic’s appreciation and high praise for his 27-year-old sidekick.
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