It didn’t take long for Los Angeles to start adding pieces to compliment Luka Dončić as Lakers GM Rob Pelinka swiped Mark Williams from the Charlotte Hornets in the late minutes of Wednesday night. Giving up Dalton Knecht in the deal was a shock, considering the excitement around his draft selection and potential as a three-point line threat. Nevertheless, the Lakers needed to fill a gaping hole, and Knecht helped them do it.
Lakers Waste No Time In Rewarding Luka Dončić
Luka Dončić Told Lakers GM Rob Pelinka He Plays Best with A Vertical Lob Threat…He Has One Now
After the shocking trade that still has many reeling, the loss of Anthony Davis left an even larger gap in the Lakers roster that had to be attended to. Mind you, the Lakers needed depth at the center position all season. It became as evident as ever without AD for defensive reasons. A day after Pelinka said of the center market being dry, he went and found a more than capable center. The development changes things dramatically for the Lakers going forward. Not only does Williams replace Davis, but the trade for the Hornets big man also gifts Dončić with a player precisely like the one he supposedly described to Pelinka.
Luka had a pair of big men to use in Dallas—Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II—which worked perfectly with Luka’s game. The Lakers had to find players of the same or similar for him. NBA insider for ESPN Ramona Shelburne provided the inside scoop on conversations between Pelinka and Dončić after the weekend trade, of which a lob threat was discussed (Twitter link).
Lakers had been looking for a big but once they got Luka this week, they knew exactly what kind of big they wanted. From what I’ve heard, in Luka’s initial basketball conversations he told Lakers GM Rob Pelinka he played best when he had a vertical lob threat. When Charlotte…
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 6, 2025
Getting Williams Is Perfect, Losing Knecht Hurts
The buzz and excitement around Knecht were high from day one of the season. The rookie started the year off well and eventually found his way into JJ Redick‘s starting lineup for a stretch. However, the sharpshooter began struggling shortly after, and his shooting dipped significantly. Redick moved Knecht back to the bench, and he continued to come in as a second-unit player.
Knecht was making noise around the NBA, but more notably in Los Angeles, and the hype was legitimate. Redick himself labeled Knecht a “shooter in the 1% of shooters,” even for a rookie. While it’s unfortunate to see Knecht leave so suddenly, the Lakers did what they had to do. Moving Knecht also proves just how valuable the organization views Austin Reaves. It was rumored that to land Myles Turner, the Indiana Pacers wanted Reaves in return. Well, the Lakers got their center elsewhere, and Reaves remains safe.
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