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One idea would send Dalton Knecht to Chicago for Zach Collins, giving JJ Redick a third center behind Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney. The Lakers had only two healthy centers last year after Kessler and Looney combined for just 26 games.
The Lakers viewed Jalen Duren as a max-level fallback option in case their pursuit of Walker Kessler fell apart, according to Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated.
Lakers reporter Jovan Buha named Max Christie among five potential trade targets for Los Angeles at the deadline. He noted Christie would likely compete with Quentin Grimes for minutes rather than fill a clear need.
ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel suggested the Lakers could dangle Dalton Knecht or Jaden Hardy, maybe with a second-round pick, to pry Jalen Smith away from Chicago, with Smith in the last year of a three-year, $27M deal and set to give Los Angeles a stretch big behind Walker Kessler.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha said on his show Buha's Block that Austin Reaves isn't going anywhere soon, but outlined hypothetical paths that could change that. One scenario has Reaves plateauing or struggling to justify his new contract.
+5A fan-made trade proposal on Fanspo would send Kyle Kuzma and Jericho Sims to the Lakers for Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN reports the Lakers are aware Luka Doncic could leave once his current deal ends, and are trying to build around him accordingly. Windhorst said that awareness partly drove the offseason move to add a center.
Deandre Ayton was traded from the Lakers to Washington in July after exercising his player option, following a season that fell short of expectations in Los Angeles. At Wizards media day, Ayton said he's excited about the move and welcomed the chance to play alongside Trae Young and Anthony Davis.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha said Dalton Knecht is more likely than Jaden Hardy to be moved or waived as Los Angeles chases a backup center.
Lakers insider Jovan Buha said Los Angeles has continued weighing trades for Milwaukee's Jericho Sims and New Orleans' Karlo Matkovic to bolster the frontcourt behind Walker Kessler.
