New Lakers Rumors Reveal Potential Dalton Knecht Trade Landing Spot as LA Tries to Cut Down Roster
The Los Angeles Lakers have discussed trading Dalton Knecht to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for center Jericho Sims, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
“League sources say that the Lakers and Bucks have held exploratory trade discussions on a framework that would ship former first-round selection Dalton Knecht to Milwaukee (along with second-round draft capital) in exchange for big man Jericho Sims,” Fischer reported Thursday. “Yet it must be said that I’ve also heard some pessimism from sources briefed on those talks that such a trade will actually go through.”
On Monday, teams are required to cut their rosters down to 15 players.
Fischer noted that the Lakers may be forced to waive Knecht if they aren’t able to trade him, as they currently have 16 players with standard contracts on their roster.
The 25-year-old was initially selected by Los Angeles with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft.
Knecht showed promise as a rookie, averaging 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per game while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three-point territory.
He fell out of the Lakers’ rotation during his 2025-26 campaign, though.
Knecht recorded just 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds per game while connecting on 45.5 percent of his field goals and 34.2 percent of his triples.
His defense was an issue, as his minus-8.5 net rating was the worst mark among all Lakers players to appear in at least 30 games last season (via NBA.com).
After Los Angeles improved its wing depth by bringing in players such as Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy and Matisse Thybulle during the offseason, Knecht’s days as a member of the organization may be numbered.
