Lakers predicted to cut ties with Dalton Knecht, acquire $90 million Cavs All-Star in three-team trade

Nairavoice | Jul 1, 2026 1h ago 56 0 3 min read

87d2b7ce6c3bb8306bdb214893c4b8ae Lakers predicted to cut ties with Dalton Knecht, acquire $90 million Cavs All-Star in three-team trade

Lakers predicted to cut ties with Dalton Knecht, acquire $90 million Cavs All-Star in three-team trade originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Los Angeles Lakers are ‘actively exploring trade scenarios’ to give Luka Doncic more ammunition to work with in 2026-27.

It’s safe to assume those trade scenarios will include struggling second-year guard Dalton Knecht, as all signs point to the Tennessee product departing Los Angeles this summer (earlier this offseason, NBA reporter Evan Sidery stated that the Lakers were attempting to find a trade suitor for Knecht, and the franchise recently drafted his potential replacement, Cameron Carr).

Judging by Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus’ recent three-team trade proposal involving Knecht and the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ 28-year-old All-Star center, he certainly agrees.

“The Lakers are scouring the free-agent and trade markets for a starting center,” Hughes wrote Saturday. (Deandre) Ayton filled the role relatively well, but he’s not in the team’s long-term plans. (Jarrett) Allen would be their upgrade, while accepting that now is the time to move on from James and build properly around (Luka) Doncic.”

“From the (New Orleans) Pelicans, the Lakers add (Trey) Murphy, a talented scoring forward on a team-friendly contract at $87 million over three seasons. Buzz in NBA circles has the New Orleans asking price for Murphy at three first-round picks. The Lakers give two outright, plus the swap in 2030.”

“It’s a big ask, but the Lakers must give Doncic a motive to continue his career long-term in Los Angeles; sacrificing future assets for the best possible win-now team costs James but brings in key players like Allen and Murphy (Dean Wade recently signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, making it impossible to include him in any hypothetical scenarios).

Pincus’ full trade proposal would send the James clan (Bronny and LeBron) Ayton and three trade exceptions to the Cavaliers, Murphy, (Micah) Peavy, Allen, and one trade exception to the Lakers, and Dennis Schroder, Jarred Vanderbilt, Jake LaRavia, Knecht, 2030 first round swap rights (from Lakers), a 2031 unprotected first-round pick, a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, and two trade exceptions to the Pelicans.

Although James recently informed the Lakers that he’s departing the franchise after eight seasons, it doesn’t rule out the possibility of the franchise pulling off a James-centered sign-and-trade to help them receive a valuable low-post asset in return for the future Hall of Fame forward.

Evan Mobley is Cleveland’s premier frontcourt contributor. However, Allen has proven to be a valuable rim-running, lob-catching big man for the 2016 NBA champions since his arrival in 2021.

The Texas product averaged 15.4 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season on a Cavaliers squad that reached the Eastern Conference Finals, shooting 63.8% from the field in 56 contests.

If a sign-and-trade featuring multiple assets and beneficial draft capital is the only way for the Lakers to pair Doncic with a center who would help bring out the best in him, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the franchise adopt that approach before the offseason concludes.

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