{"id":81409,"date":"2025-07-21T07:38:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T07:38:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=81409"},"modified":"2025-07-21T07:38:34","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T07:38:34","slug":"hot-news-lakers-expected-to-trade-dalton-knecht-clear-cap-space-to-sign-marcus-smart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=81409","title":{"rendered":"HOT NEWS: Lakers Expected To Trade Dalton Knecht, Clear Cap Space To Sign Marcus Smart"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Lakers’ roster construction effort has seen the team acquire Marcus Smart out of free agency. As positive as this would be for the team, the process of completing this move would require the Purple and Gold to take some additional steps.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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The\u00a0Los Angeles Lakers\u00a0have turned their offseason roster construction efforts around with their\u00a0recent signing of Marcus Smart\u00a0in free agency.<\/p>\n

While this has positively addressed the team’s need for an elite defender, the Lakers may package\u00a0Dalton Knecht\u00a0and\u00a0Maxi Kleber\u00a0in a trade move before finalizing Smart’s signing, according to Lakers insider Anthony Irwin.<\/p>\n

As things stand, certain cap constraints prevent the team from completing the move. Irwin suggested that this was indicative of a potential trade to clear cap space on a recent episode of “Lakers Lounge.” He said:<\/p>\n

“The Lakers have a couple of paths they can head down. One, the Lakers would prefer to complete some type of a consolidation trade, where they send out an expiring contract and Dalton Knecht, and they bring in a player that they are more confident will help them this year and continue on without having to waive Jordan Goodwin.”<\/em><\/p>\n

The Lakers are presently expected to offer\u00a0Marcus Smart\u00a0a two-year, $11 million deal.\u00a0Although the buyout from the\u00a0Wizards\u00a0lets the team acquire him at a discount, the Lakers still do not have the bi-annual exception (BAE) available to them to do so.<\/p>\n

While Irwin discussed the situation surrounding Shake Milton, the Lakers eventually opted to\u00a0waive the guard, clearing up the necessary roster space to acquire Smart. But their need to clear more cap space suggests that another move may be in the works.<\/p>\n

The insider also addressed the possibility of Smart taking less money to facilitate the move happening, but this seems improbable.\u00a0With this in mind, any trade involving Knecht and Kleber could hint at the Lakers\u2019 strategic direction.<\/p>\n

Knecht has garnered a lot of\u00a0interest in trade rumors\u00a0over the offseason. As a sharpshooter with high upside, the young guard brings a lot to the table, even if his display in the Summer League was somewhat underwhelming.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile,\u00a0Kleber now serves more as an experienced veteran big man\u00a0at this stage in his career. While his intelligence and floor spacing ability could be of value to several teams in the league, his status as an expiring contract makes him a more appealing acquisition.<\/p>\n

When considering what the Lakers could get in return for these two, it is important to remember the team’s preference for expiring\/short-term contracts that will\u00a0keep their cap space clear for next season.<\/p>\n

Additionally, having addressed the concerns regarding their big man rotation, the Lakers are more\u00a0likely to pursue a wing defender. While a star-caliber player is an unlikely acquisition in this trade package, the Purple and Gold could look to sign\u00a0a player capable of contributing to winning right away.<\/p>\n

Update: The Lakers have opted to waive Jordan Goodwin to clear more cap space to complete Marcus Smart’s signing. While efforts to facilitate trades were made in the last 24 hours, matters never moved beyond the initial stages. The Lakers also didn’t intend to give up significant draft assets in these deals.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Lakers’ roster construction effort has seen the team acquire Marcus Smart out of free agency. 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