A five-team NBA trade idea sending Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy and Dwight Powell to the Brooklyn Nets has been created.
NBA writer Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report created the following trade idea between the Nets, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks:
Dallas Mavericks get: LeBron James, Bronny James, Andre Jackson Jr., Tyler Smith, Drew Timme
Los Angeles Lakers get: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Tyrese Martin, $4 million trade exception, $2 million trade exception
Milwaukee Bucks get: RJ Barrett, P.J. Washington, Caleb Martin, Naji Marshall, $2 million trade exception, 2026 first-round swap rights (from Lakers), 2026 Lakers second-rounder (via Raptors), 2028 first-round swap rights (from Lakers), 2030 first-round swap rights (from Lakers), 2031 first-rounder (from Lakers), 2032 first-round swap rights (from Lakers)
Toronto Raptors get: Daniel Gafford, $13.3 million trade exception
Brooklyn Nets get: Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, Dwight Powell
LeBron would have to request a trade from the Lakers to the Mavericks for this NBA trade idea to work since the 40-year-old basketball legend has a no-trade clause in his contract.
Antetokounmpo would have to request a trade as well because the Bucks will not trade him unless he requests a trade.
Knecht is a member of the Lakers, while Hardy and Powell are with the Mavericks. The Lakers traded Knecht to the Charlotte Hornets last season for Mark Williams, but the trade was rescinded after Williams failed his physical with Los Angeles.
Why would the Nets make this trade? Pincus explains below:
“The Nets profit in the deal by getting relatively free looks at young players like Knecht and Hardy. Shooting in the NBA is a premium, and Knecht, 24, would partner with Michael Porter Jr. to help space the floor for the team’s many recent draft acquisitions like Egor Demin, Nolan Traoré, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf.
“Hardy, 23, is a young combo guard on an inexpensive multi-year deal at $6 million flat (team option before the 2027-28 season). The Nets are evaluating talent; the players traded away may need to be cut for roster space (Martin and Timme).”
The Nets went 26-56 last season. They are in rebuild mode.