In a proposed three-team trade, the Lakers would send out Dalton Knecht and a future first-round pick to acquire the 8th overall selection in the upcoming NBA Draft, targeting Duke center Khaman Maluach.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be desperately looking to upgrade their center position this season after it caused them significant trouble in the playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
While there are some options available in free agency and on the trade market, the Lakers’ limited salary cap may force them to explore alternative ways to acquire a starting-caliber center.
One such option could be through the draft. In a proposed trade by ESPN’s Bobby Marks, the Lakers could potentially acquire the 8th overall pick in the upcoming draft, giving them a chance to select a promising young center.
Potential trade:
Lakers receive:
No. 8 overall pick (via Brooklyn)
No. 36 overall pick (via Brooklyn)
Trail Blazers receive:
Dalton Knecht
2027 top-4 protected first round pick (via New York)
Nets receive:
No. 11 overall pick (via Portland)
2031 unprotected first round pick (via Los Angeles)
In this trade scenario, the Lakers would send out forward Dalton Knecht and an unprotected 2031 first-round pick, receiving the 8th and 36th overall picks in this year’s draft in return.
With the 8th pick, the Lakers could target Duke center Khaman Maluach, a 7-foot-2, 250-pound prospect who averaged 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds this past season while helping lead Duke to the Final Four.
Drafting Maluach would give the Lakers a potential lob threat and rim protector, thanks to his size and athleticism. An added bonus would be his rookie-scale contract, which would provide valuable financial flexibility as the Lakers look to continue improving their roster.
