Lakers predicted to trade Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt for $50M sharpshooting Finals champion

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Lakers predicted to trade Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt for $50M sharpshooting Finals champion originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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The Dallas Mavericks are under new management after taking a different direction following the firing of former general manager Nico Harrison. There are still major question marks surrounding the future of Klay Thompson.

Thompson left the Golden State Warriors in free agency a couple of years ago to join forces with Luka Dončić. Now, there is a growing belief that he could be on the move again.

“Thompson should be angling for a trade to a desirable destination rather than a buyout, albeit he holds less control in the former scenario. The complicated aspect is the 4x NBA champion is still set to make $17.5 million next season, and there might not be too many teams eager on him at that price point,” Blue Man Hoops Peter O’Keefe wrote.

There is a mock trade that sends Thompson to the Lakers in exchange for Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt.

“Mavericks Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht. Lakers Receive: Klay Thompson. This trade would pair him back up with Doncic. They need more shooting around Doncic and Austin Reaves (if they bring him back), and they just need more playable guys. Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht were not playable under JJ Redick,” SI’s Austin Veazey wrote.

Knecht’s future in Los Angeles has been uncertain since last season. However, his situation became even less stable after the Lakers drafted Cameron Carr.

“[I] like his fit in L.A. as an athletic shot-maker who can do more than just make jump shots,” wrote The Athletic’s John Hollinger after the Lakers drafted Carr. “I think Carr has a chance to be the player the Lakers thought they were getting when they picked Dalton Knecht. The Lakers paid to trade up and make sure they got their guy.”

This would be a strong trade for both teams, as the Mavericks would improve defensively while adding depth and shooting. For the Lakers, they would bring in a proven sharpshooter to pair alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, helping create more spacing in the offense.

Thompson is entering the final year of his $50 million deal with Dallas, so the Lakers would also benefit from acquiring him on an expiring contract. Overall, the deal would give Los Angeles a veteran shooting boost, while Dallas would receive two younger pieces and a fresh start for their roster reshuffling.

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