The Los Angeles Lakers are exploring a trade that could send Dalton Knecht to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for backup center Jericho Sims, but negotiations are stalling over draft compensation. According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, the main sticking point is whether the Lakers would need to send one or two second-round picks along with Knecht. Buha suggested that while one second-round pick might be justifiable, two could be too steep a price for a player of Sims’ caliber.
NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that exploratory talks have occurred, but there’s skepticism from sources that a deal will come together. For the Lakers, acquiring Sims would add depth behind Walker Kessler, but trading Knecht wouldn’t solve their roster crunch—they’d still need to make another move to comply with the league’s 15-player limit. The Bucks face a similar issue and have looked into other trades to avoid waiving players.
With Monday’s roster deadline approaching, the Lakers might have to act quickly. Buha noted that teams usually waive players about 48 hours before the cutoff to avoid extra salary charges, so if a trade doesn’t happen soon, Knecht could be waived. Milwaukee might prefer to wait and pick up Knecht off waivers without giving up Sims, but that risks another team claiming him.
Knecht, the 17th overall pick in 2024, has struggled to find a consistent role in Los Angeles. Recent training camp footage showed him with limited involvement, which Buha interpreted as the team distancing itself from him. The Lakers now must decide if trading draft capital for Sims is worth it, especially when it doesn’t fully address their roster issues.
