{"id":751900,"date":"2026-06-04T02:51:14","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T02:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/751900\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T02:51:14","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T02:51:14","slug":"lakers-pelicans-trade-pitch-sees-los-angeles-cut-ties-with-18-million-guard-who-asked-to-be-traded","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/751900\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers-Pelicans trade pitch sees Los Angeles cut ties with $18 million guard who asked to be traded"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lakers-Pelicans trade pitch sees Los Angeles cut ties with $18 million guard who asked to be traded<\/a> originally appeared on The Sporting News<\/a>. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> have no reason to retain players who no longer want to compete with the organization, as it\u2019s pointless in every way imaginable.<\/p>\n

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Why hold them hostage instead of finding them a new home and giving them the best possible chance to be successful in the NBA?<\/p>\n

Take the Lakers\u2019 declining $18 million wing, Dalton Knecht<\/a>, for instance. According to Lakers insider Anthony Irwin<\/a>, the former second-round pick met with the higher-ups in the organization and \u2018asked to be traded\u2019 before the Feb. 5 deadline.<\/p>\n

Although Knecht ultimately remained with Los Angeles<\/a>, NBA reporter Evan Sidery<\/a> believes the world where the Lakers move on from the Tennessee product this summer via a trade to the New Orleans Pelicans<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cA legal framework trade the Lakers can offer on draft night for a win-now upgrade,\u201d Sidery wrote on X\/Twitter Monday. \u201cLA receives: Herb Jones<\/a> + Yves Missi<\/a>. New Orleans<\/a> receives: Dalton Knecht, Jake LaRavia<\/a>, No. 25 overall, 2031 1st.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Knecht and the Lakers would both be deemed winners of Sidery\u2019s hypothetical trade pitch. For Los Angeles, acquiring Jones and Missi would help improve Los Angeles\u2019 perimeter\/interior defense, while Knecht joining New Orleans would allow him to start fresh in a small market that\u2019s more inclined to rebuild than quickly enter win-now mode.<\/p>\n

Knecht averaged 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds with the Lakers this season, shooting 45.5% from the field and 34.2% from long-range in 54 contests while spending time in the G-League for the second straight campaign.<\/p>\n

If Los Angeles knows what\u2019s best for them, they\u2019ll work to offload Knecht this offseason.<\/p>\n

More NBA news:<\/p>\n

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