By Mathieu Seguin | Sport editor
Rumors are already agitating Los Angeles as the training camp approaches, and this time, it is not a simple bench adjustment. A major exchange could well transform the face of the Lakers, at a time when the franchise still seeks to maximize its chances of title in the last years of LeBron James and the renewal with Luka Doncic.
According to the latest information from the United States, Californian leaders are planning to turn Dalton Knecht’s page earlier than expected. Drafted in the first round, the rear failed to convince during its first months, leaving doubts about its future role in the workforce. In this context, the Lakers would not exclude including it in a major transfer.
Journalist Evan Sidery (Forbes) thus revealed that “The Heat and the Lakers reopened the discussions around a potential exchange concerning Andrew Wiggins before the training camp. Los Angeles is very open to the idea of including the old first round choice Dalton Knecht, accompanied by expiring wages. Miami, for its part, wants a first round of the future draft to be added to the package. »» A declaration which shows the progress of the negotiations.
A bet on the experience of Wiggins
The arrival of Wiggins, former All-Star and key member of the Warriors title in 2022, would represent a boon for a team looking for an experienced winger. Despite a mixed season in the past, he recalled last year that he could flirt with the 20 points on average, while bringing a solid defense on the wings. What fill a persistent gap in the rotation of the Lakers.
The contrast with Knecht is striking. The rear, supposed to represent a bet on the future, experienced a complicated summer. His Summer League campaign ended in 27.9 % successful success and only 23.8 % behind the arc, while posting a disturbing tendency to force his drives without collective vision. A stagnation that poses a problem for a player supposed to contribute quickly.
A transfer would therefore offer an immediate solution: recover a confirmed player and NBA champion, rather than betting on an uncertain development. For an organization that wants to remain competitive around James and Luka Doncic, this type of movement can make the difference in an ever more raised west conference.
The main question now remains to know how far the Lakers are ready to go. Adding a first round of draft to the deal might seem expensive, but if the goal is to play the title now, sacrifice Knecht and a future choice for Andrew Wiggins could well be the decisive operation of the offseason.
