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[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: LeBron James Picks Up Player Option For 2025-26 Season

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James remains one of the best players in the league as despite turning 40 in his 22nd season, he was named to Second Team All-NBA.

As great as he still is though, it’s natural for LeBron to contemplate his future and how much longer he wants to continue playing. James was noncommittal about returning for a 23rd season and eighth in L.A. after the Lakers were eliminated from the postseason, wanting to take time to talk it over with him family before making any decisions.

LeBron has a player option for the 2025-26 season worth $52.6 million that he has to make a decision on by June 29. If he picks that up then he will be under contract for another season with the Lakers. If he declines it though, he will become an unrestricted free agent where he can negotiate a new deal with L.A. or other teams. While retirement has been considered in past years, it never seemed like a possibility this summer.

The expectation all along though has been for James to return to the Lakers, and according to Shams Charania of ESPN, that will be the case as he is picking up that player option:

Breaking: Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James is opting into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025-26 season, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul told ESPN.

Paul adds: LeBron "knows the Lakers are building for the future … but he values a realistic chance of winning it all." pic.twitter.com/q5mT1O2R35

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 29, 2025

With James picking up his player option, he will not be taking a discount to help the Lakers build out their roster, which was reported to be the case early in the offseason.

Regardless though, the most important domino of the Lakers’ offseason has now fallen with LeBron expected back in purple and gold. His eighth season with the team will mark his longest tenure with an organization, surpassing his first seven-season stint in Cleveland.

Now, the focus could shift to building a roster that fits James and Luka Doncic as L.A. looks to get back into championship contention.

And for James, he is working on getting healthy before training camp after suffering a sprained MCL in the team’s final postseason game.

Ron Pelinka: Lakers want to meet LeBron James’ expectations for roster​

Rob Pelinka has made it clear in his 2024-25 end-of-the-year press conference that the Lakers want to put together a roster to LeBron James’ liking, so they were clearly under the impression that he will be back for at least one more season.

James is already the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and has every accolade there is so at this stage of his career though, he is only in the business of competing for championships. That means the pressure is on Pelinka to improve the roster and make that happen, although he has limited resources to work with.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-lebron-james-picks-up-player-option-for-2025-26-season/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Potential Lakers Center Target Deandre Ayton Agrees To Buyout With Trail Blazers

NBA free agency kicks off on Monday and it’s no secret what the Los Angeles Lakers will be looking for as they don’t currently have a center on the roster.

The Lakers have been linked to a number of big men on both the trade and free agent markets, with Brook Lopez and Clint Capela perhaps being the most realistic options for what the Lakers can afford.

Despite opting into his contract, LeBron James appears to be putting pressure on the Lakers to make moves to elevate themselves to contender status, so the pressure will be on Rob Pelinka to make a splash to the 40-year-old’s liking to convince him to stay. The same can be said for Luka Doncic, who will be eligible for a contract extension in August that the Lakers surely will want him to sign.

Perhaps the splash that Pelinka is looking for just hit the market as according to Shams Charania of ESPN, Deandre Ayton is finalizing a contract buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers:

Breaking: Deandre Ayton is finalizing a contract buyout with the Portland Trail Blazers to become a free agent, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/DNYcNqRvkW

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025

Sudden addition to the free-agent market. This gives Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick who went to the NBA Finals with the Suns, the chance to receive a fresh opportunity as the Trail Blazers build around their depth of young centers. https://t.co/JlaQzrnI0N

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025

The Trail Blazers have been trying to trade Ayton for a while but there were no takers, which isn’t a surprise given his $35.5 million salary. With him being bought out and becoming a free agent though, the former Phoenix Sun is free to sign with any team.

Ayton is a former No. 1 overall pick that started in the NBA Finals as recently as 2021. While his stock has taken a big hit since then, there’s no denying he would fill a need for the Lakers as he is coming off a season in which he averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds in 40 games for Portland.

At 26 years of age, there’s still hope that Ayton could be a productive starting center in the NBA, especially playing alongside someone like Doncic, who he conveniently shares an agent with. If the Lakers wind up opening up their mid-level exception, Ayton could become a prime target and the interest should be mutual given the role they can offer him.

Dorian Finney-Smith declines player option from Lakers​

Lakers wing Dorian Finney-Smith reportedly declined his player option, which means he will also test free agency. While the Lakers are known to want him back, there is already interest elsewhere across the league so that is no guarantee.

If Finney-Smith were to walk in free agency then the Lakers would be below the first apron of the salary cap, which would open up the full mid-level to pursue a player like Deandre Ayton.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/potential-...re-ayton-agrees-to-buyout-with-trail-blazers/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Jake LaRavia Signing Two-Year Contract

The start of NBA free agency kicked off on Monday afternoon with the Los Angeles Lakers expected to be one of the more aggressive teams.

The Lakers have a number of needs, most notably the center position, and also the wing as well with the expected departure of Dorian Finney-Smith, who is signing with the Houston Rockets.

With the Lakers losing Finney-Smith, they have opened up the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $14.1 million, giving them more spending power in free agency than they originally expected to have.

They began to use that on the first day of free agency by agreeing to a two-year, $12 million contract with former Sacramento Kings wing Jake LaRavia, per Shams Charania of ESPN:

Free agent forward Jake LaRavia has agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. LaRavia had a strong finish after joining the Sacramento Kings last season. pic.twitter.com/hXw9E1PzZV

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025

Fully guaranteed deal for Jake LaRavia in Los Angeles — negotiated tonight by agents Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry of AMR Agency. https://t.co/rAKs7XLYpv

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2025

It appears LaRavia is being brought in as part of the Lakers’ mid-level exception, which means they still have around $8.3 million remaining to use.

The 23-year-old was originally drafted 21st overall in 2022 out of Wake Forest. He has played in 136 games across three seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings, averaging 6.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 37.1% from 3-point range. In 66 games this past season split between the two teams, he put up 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists per contest.

LaRavia is a versatile 6’8″ forward that will help fill the void left by Finney-Smith and at just 23 years of age, there is hope that he will continue to grow with the Lakers’ young core. While this isn’t a move that will put the Lakers over the top, it is a solid addition to start free agency.

LeBron James and Lakers have not had trade talks​

One other storyline surrounding the Lakers to monitor involves LeBron James as despite picking up his player option, his future with the organization remains uncertain as his agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports put out a statement hinting at the possibility if they do not like how L.A.’s roster shapes up.

It appears it has not gotten to that point though as Paul cleared the air and revealed that no trade talks between James and the Lakers have taken place to this point. That could change in the future, but for now it appears LeBron is planning on playing his 23rd NBA season in purple and gold.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-jake-laravia-signing-two-year-contract/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: First Free Agency Call Was To Jake LaRavia

The first day of free agency was a quiet one for the Los Angeles Lakers, although they did make one signing, bringing in wing Jake LaRavia on a reported two-year, $12 million contract.

Signing LaRavia helps make up for the loss of Dorian Finney-Smith, who agreed to a four-year contract at the start of free agency with the Houston Rockets.

At just 23 years of age, LaRavia will bring some youth to the Lakers on the wing. It appears he was a priority as according to Dan Woike of The Athletic, the Lakers’ first call at the start of free agency was to LaRavia:

LaRavia is represented by Aaron Reilly and Reggie Berry, the same agency team that represents Reaves. Reaves made a surprise cameo at the end of a long LaRavia interview this summer, when it turned out that the car LaRavia was riding in was being driven by his future Lakers teammate

According to league sources, LaRavia was the Lakers’ first call when free agency officially opened at 3 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday. In his conversation with Rob Pelinka and Lakers coach JJ Redick, LaRavia and his team were impressed with the ways Pelinka sold the strengths of the Lakers’ brand and Redick’s detailed vision for how he’d like to use the young wing.

In 136 career games across three seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings, LaRavia has averaged 6.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 37.1% from 3-point range. In 66 games this past season split between the two teams, he put up 6.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists.

While those numbers don’t jump off the page, the Lakers are obviously confident that he will continue to improve with their core.

Rich Paul says Lakers and LeBron James have not talked trades​

The expectation is that Jake LaRavia will be teaming up with LeBron James as despite all of the noise surrounding the 40-year-old, his agent Rich Paul of Klutch Sports confirmed that no trade talks have taken place between them and the Lakers.

“What he is saying on behalf of LeBron James is that LeBron James has a few years left to play, and he’s still playing at a high level,” NBA insider Chris Haynes reported. “He wants to win and he said LeBron understands the priority is Luka and maximizing his timeline… He made it clear LeBron is supportive of that. At the same time, the desire is that the Lakers also prioritize him as well and make sure they’re doing everything that they can to still compete now. That’s all he was saying. [Rich Paul] told me there has been no trade discussions, there are have been no trade talks with the Lakers, people have been speculating on certain teams that he might be interested in. I’m told that all that talk is false. There has been no trade talk, there has been no extension talk. He clearly opted in and he wants to win. He believes the Lakers have what it takes to maximize Luka’s timeline, but also maximize and prioritize his timeline. That’s what Rich Paul wanted to get clear.”

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-first-free-agency-call-was-to-jake-laravia/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Price Tag On Jazz Center Walker Kessler Remains High

One of the worst-kept secrets in the NBA is the Los Angeles Lakers’ pursuit of a center, and that one of their dream options is Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz. The soon-to-be 24-year-old has just about everything the Lakers are looking for in a center, and with him set to enter restricted free agency next summer, the Jazz have opened the door on a trade before having to pay him a major contract.

But the door has only been cracked open by Utah, as they still would love to hold on to the young and talented rim protector. Since the 2024-25 trade deadline, the price on Kessler has remained astronomically high, with the Lakers at no point having the assets required to land him.

The hope for L.A. was that by pushing the conversation to the offseason, perhaps the Jazz would relent and make a deal with fewer assets being returned. But according to Lakers insider Jovan Buha, that does not appear to be the case:

“I’ve just heard nothing but they want two picks plus a young player for Walker Kessler. So the Lakers cannot do that trade. They can give one pick and one young player and a swap. You could throw in a couple swaps. I probably would try to hold off on the later swaps, but I would maybe throw in three swaps like just or and take away the protections on the top four pick in in 2027, but I just don’t know if that’s going to be enough for Utah.”

The Lakers have shifted their pursuit of a center largely from free agency to the trade market — with the exception of Deandre Ayton and Al Horford — in the last 24 hours, after striking out on Brook Lopez and Clint Capela. And while there has been no noise about which specific centers the Lakers are looking at, it has to be assumed that Kessler is on the list considering they have already made offers to Utah.

But, as has been the case for months now, a trade materializing between L.A. and Utah continues to be unlikely with the Jazz’s high price point and the Lakers currently only having one tradable first-round pick. And at this stage in the offseason, there is no reason for them to lower that price.

Lakers still showing interest in Al Horford and Deandre Ayton​

While the trade market remains L.A.’s most likely place of landing an impact center for the future, they are still engaged in conversations with free agents Deandre Ayton and Al Horford.

In the coming days, both players are likely to choose their destinations, and at that point, the Lakers can see what they have before continuing down a trade path.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-price-tag-on-jazz-center-walker-kessler-remains-high/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

NBA Rumors: Lakers Involved In Potential Record Seven-Team Expanded Kevin Durant Trade

The NBA offseason is off and running and so far, the Los Angeles Lakers have lost Dorian Finney-Smith to the Houston Rockets. That opened up the full mid-level exception though, which they used to sign Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia.

All of these moves are reported but will not be official until the start of the new league year on July 6. In the meantime, general managers across the league are getting creative to try and put the best possible rosters together.

Sometimes that includes turning free agent signings into sign-and-trades, and expanding deals to multiple teams. The Lakers were involved in one of those in the summer of 2021 when they acquired Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards, which was ultimately expanded into a five-team deal.

It appears Rob Pelinka may be getting in the mix again as according to Fred Katz of The Athletic, the Kevin Durant trade between the Rockets and Phoenix Suns could be expanded into a record seven-team deal with the Lakers being one of them:

League sources tell The Athletic that the Rockets and Suns are working on expanding the Kevin Durant trade into a deal that would involve a league-record seven teams. Other teams involved in negotiations at the moment include the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves, league sources say.

No trade is imminent, and details are being ironed out as of Wednesday night.

In a would-be seven-team trade, there is an unprecedented amount of detail. Unfortunately, while a seven-team trade would make for a thrilling topic at a cocktail party, there haven’t been many unexpected developments in these negotiations. At least in the iterations of the deal discussed so far, most of the recognizable names are from trades that have already been agreed to and reported but not yet finalized.

The Hawks would be sending Clint Capela to the Rockets in what would become a sign-and-trade, league sources say. Durant would go to Houston. The previously reported return for him, including Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green, would go to Phoenix. Only five players who were in the NBA last season are being discussed in the current iteration of the trade, as of now: Durant, Brooks, Green, Clint Capela and Daeqwon Plowden, league sources say. The rest of the players being discussed are all from already-agreed-upon draft-night trades that are yet to be finalized and can’t be until July 6.

It’s unclear what the Lakers’ exact involvement in the trade would be, but it likely would be nothing major. Perhaps they are turning the Finney-Smith deal into a sign-and-trade to generate a trade exception, or maybe they are acquiring a player like Nick Richards from the Suns, who would be absorbed into their bi-annual exception.

The other possibility is that the Lakers’ trade up in the draft for Adou Thiero, which involved the Minnesota Timberwolves, is being looped in considering they are one of the other six teams.

Lakers have reported interest in Nick Richards​

If the Lakers were to acquire Richards then it wouldn’t come as a surprise as they have had reported interest in him since he appeared to become expendable when the Suns drafted Khaman Maluach and traded for Mark Williams.

The Lakers acquiring Richards would give them a formidable center duo along with Ayton, although it obviously remains to be seen if that would be L.A.’s involvement in the potential trade considering he is not listed in the report.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/nba-rumors...ecord-seven-team-expanded-kevin-durant-trade/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Jaxson Hayes Re-Signs On One-Year Contract

With NBA free agency officially underway, all eyes will be on the Los Angeles Lakers as they look to improve the roster ahead of a pivotal 2025-26 season.

Entering the summer, everyone around the league knew that the Lakers would be aggressively shopping for a center via the trade market. They’ve also been linked to just about every available big man in free agency, most notably Deandre Ayton, who the team was able to land after he was bought out by the Portland Trail Blazers.

Los Angeles’ roster is still thin in the frontcourt though, especially at the center position where there aren’t any viable centers still under contract outside of Ayton.

Jaxson Hayes was one of the free agent big men on the Lakers and his return was a question mark after he saw his role dwindle in the playoffs. Hayes really emerged in the second half of the season after L.A. traded Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic, but he was not able to keep up that production in the postseason and wound up on the bench.

Despite that though, Hayes is set to return to the Lakers after agreeing to a one-year contract, per Shams Charania of ESPN:

Free agent center Jaxson Hayes has agreed on a one-year deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell ESPN. Hayes' agents, Bill Duffy and Marlon Harrison of WME Basketball, finalized a contract with Lakers president Rob Pelinka on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/fZOeqVyo9u

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 3, 2025

Hayes has played in 126 games (40 starts) across two seasons with the Lakers and averaged 5.4 points and 3.8 rebounds. He showed spurts of why he was drafted in the lottery in 2019 but was not able to parlay his time in L.A. into a bigger deal elsewhere. Instead, he will be back with the Lakers in a familiar bench role that he thrived in before the organization traded Davis.

It’s clear that the Lakers want as many lob threats for Doncic as possible, and Hayes fit that role really well after the trade last season.

Lakers looking to maintain flexibility to make run at superstar next summer​

The Lakers have shown that they are valuing their future cap space as they’ve yet to sign anyone to long-term contracts or extensions. The hope is that Luka Doncic signs an extension this summer and from there Los Angeles is reportedly looking to make a run at a superstar to pair with him next summer.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-jaxson-hayes-re-signs-on-one-year-contract/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: In Driver’s Seat For Free Agent De’Anthony Melton?

There were a couple of names linked to the Los Angeles Lakers when free agency began. Big man DeAndre Ayton has agreed to join the team, as has wing Jake LaRavia. However, one player that was believed to be a target of the Lakers who remains unsigned is guard De’Anthony Melton.

The Lakers’ interest in Melton makes sense as he is a perfect fit next to superstar Luka Doncic. He is an excellent perimeter defender who can guard the other team’s top guard and has proven to be a more than capable shooter as well. But ever since the start of free agency, there has been little progression on what Melton’s move will be.

And while everything has been quiet surrounding Melton, it is still expected that he will ultimately sign with the Lakers, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report:

“They’re not done. We are still waiting to find out what will happen with De’Anthony Melton. He was, of course, a widely anticipated wing signing for them… I haven’t heard anything new, we’re just still expecting he will eventually sign with the Lakers.”

If Melton does join the Lakers it would be a great boost to the backcourt. It would make sense that he is interested in joining the team as Melton is a local product. He was born in North Hollywood and starred at Crespi High School before spending two years at USC.

Melton has shot at least 36% from 3-point range in each of the last five seasons while also averaging 1.4 steals per game in his career. He understands and embraces his role next to stars and has shown that he can deliver on the playoff stage as well. There are some injury concerns, however, as he is coming off a partially torn ACL that limited him to just six games with the Golden State Warriors last season.

The fact that it has been complete silence on Melton for a few days now is a bit odd, but it sounds as if him joining the Lakers remains the most likely outcome and that is a good thing for this team. The team still has access to their bi-annual exception, which could be used to give Melton a starting salary of around $5 million.

Jaxson Hayes returns to Lakers on one-year deal​

The Lakers also agreed to bring back center Jaxson Hayes on a one-year deal. The energetic big man was thrust into a starting role following the Luka Doncic trade which saw Anthony Davis traded away, but will likely be back in a reserve role where he really thrives.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-in-drivers-seat-for-free-agent-deanthony-melton/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Dalton Knecht Doing 3-A-Day Workouts This Offseason

Dalton Knecht is a name to keep an eye on this offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers, as his future with the team is currently uncertain.

Now that Luka Doncic is at the forefront of appeasing in terms of roster building and Knecht is presumably L.A.’s most valuable asset due to being a lottery pick last year, he could be on the move for win-now pieces. The rookie showed flashes of flamethrower potential during his rookie season, dropping 37 points against the Utah Jazz and 32 points in Denver playing the Nuggets, so the Lakers need to be careful if they are gonna deal him.

Regardless of the recent rumors, Knecht needs to prepare for his sophomore season accordingly, whether he remains with the Lakers or not. To his credit, the 24-year-old appears to be motivated to take a leap next season as he revealed that he is doing three-a-day workouts ever since their season ended, via Dave McMenamin of ESPN:

“Starting at 6, I started since the season ended, right after the loss, pretty much started right away. Didn’t take any time off, so just getting in the gym starting at 6 a.m. and then going with the guys at 10 and coming back later at night to get up as many shots as I can and just working on my game and craft.”

This is a promising sign for Knecht as he is truly dedicated to becoming a valuable role player in the NBA. Should he hang around, Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves will get him plenty of open looks.

However, scoring is not an issue for the Knecht as defense is a more prominent issue. Head coach JJ Redick clearly did not feel comfortable putting Knecht in high-stakes situations due to how he would get targeted on defense.

Now, that does not mean he needs to become an All-Defensive caliber of defender, but being a system defender is necessary. For example, Redick implemented a peel and switch element to his defense, which benefited Doncic as he did not get targeted and played passing lanes.

All in all, turning into an engaged defender, adding more muscle and refining shooting mechanics is a home run offseason for Knecht. He is on his way by doing three workouts daily and hopefully those results will showcase themselves next season.

Dalton Knecht expected to play in Summer League​

Second-year players, on occasion, suit up for Summer League for a few games to get reps in and display their growth as players. After a disappointing end to his rookie season, Dalton Knecht revealed he is going to play in Summer League for the Lakers this offseason.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-dalton-knecht-doing-3-a-day-workouts-this-offseason/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Recap: Cole Swider Shines, Dalton Knecht Struggles As Lakers Drop California Classic Opener To Warriors

The Los Angeles Lakers are back in action this summer as they traveled to the Bay Area to participate in the annual California Classic. The Lakers are part of four teams, including the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs and Miami Heat, to participate in the exhibition.

The Lakers faced the Warriors for their first game of the California Classic and exercised caution with some of their players as Bronny James, Adou Thiero and Eric Dixon were held out of the contest.

It was a nice start for the Lakers, but they collapsed in the second half and suffered an 89-84 loss.

Cole Swider returned to the Lakers for his second Summer League stint and promptly knocked down his first 3-point attempt to get the team on the board. DJ Steward followed up with a couple of crafty buckets to help give L.A. an early 9-2 lead.

With Dalton Knecht off to a slow start, Steward was the primary source of scoring and shotmaking for the Lakers and they maintained a seven-point lead. The bench group sparked L.A. defensively and they ended the first leading 19-11.

Julian Reese opened up the second with a strong finish near the rim, while Knecht finally scored off a drive to the cup. An offensive slump, though, allowed the Warriors to climb back within six midway through the quarter.

Steward checked back into the game, immediately hit a 3 and then got fouled on another 3-point attempt to push the lead back up to 10. However, Golden State made a run to close the half and L.A. went into the break ahead 43-39.

The Lakers saw their lead disappear at the top of the third quarter after a quick 7-0 Warriors run, forcing a timeout. Swider ended Golden State’s run with his third 3-pointer of the game, though L.A. still trailed by two.

Things started to slip away from the Lakers after another Warriors three put them down by double-digits. L.A. tried to catch up with their own run, but Golden State swiftly responded and they went into the fourth trailing 69-60.

Much like the third quarter, the Lakers got off to a slow start offensively in the fourth which allowed the Warriors to keep momentum on their side.

The Lakers needed to get Knecht going if they wanted to mount any sort of comeback. He sensed that and went into attack mode and Swider also continued firing away from deep. The Lakers got their deficit down to just three, but they never got over the jump with Golden State closing out the victory.

Knecht wound up finishing with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals on 3-of-13 shooting. Meanwhile. Swider led all scorers with 24 points and eight rebounds while shooting 6-of-8 from deep.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers will take on the Miami Heat on Sunday and then conclude their California Classic schedule on Tuesday against the San Antonio Spurs. They’ll then head to Nevada for the 2025 Las Vegas Summer League where they’ll kick off the festivities against Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/recap-cole...s-drop-california-classic-opener-to-warriors/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Officially Acquire Adou Thiero As Part Of Record-Breaking Seven-Team Kevin Durant Trade

The Los Angeles Lakers have officially acquired the rights to Adou Thiero, the 36th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, as part of a record-breaking seven-team trade that also involved the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Lakers’ inclusion in this deal involved sending the 45th overall pick in the draft, used to select Australian big man Rocco Zikarsky, as well as cash considerations, to the Timberwolves for that 36th pick that was used to take Thiero. The Timberwolves also received 2026 and 2032 second-round picks from other teams in this deal, as well cash considerations from the Lakers.

This seven-team trade was all an expansion on the Kevin Durant trade between the Suns and Rockets. Big man Clint Capela will also be going to Houston in a sign-and-trade with the Hawks as part of this deal with Atlanta receiving David Roddy, a 2031 second-round pick swap and cash considerations, along with a trade exception.

The Suns are receiving the biggest haul in this deal stemming from numerous different transactions. Overall, the Suns are receiving wings Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, the draft rights to Khaman Malauch, Rasheer Fleming, Kobe Brea and Daeqwon Plowden in this year’s draft, as well a future second-round draft pick.

The Warriors received the draft rights to Alex Toohey and Jahmai Mashack from this year’s draft in the deal while the Nets received a pair of second-round picks in 2026 and 2030 to round out this historic trade.

It is becoming more commonplace for certain transactions to be combined into one massive deal, but there has never been one quite like this. For the Lakers, a simple deal to bring in a young prospect in the NBA Draft now has them as a part of history.

The Lakers were happy to jump in and be a part of it as they had a first-round draft grade on Thiero and were able to get him at 36.

Lakers rookie Adou Thiero to miss Summer League due to knee injury​

Unfortunately for the Lakers and the fans, they will have to wait to get a look at the player they acquired in this trade in game action. Adou Thiero will not be suiting up for the Lakers in Summer League as he recovers from a knee injury.

Thiero is in the final stages of a return to play process from a knee issue he dealt with while still at Arkansas and rather than risk anything, the Lakers are choosing to hold him out. Thiero is expected to be fully cleared by training camp, however, so his availability for the 2025-26 season is in no danger.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-off...ecord-breaking-seven-team-kevin-durant-trade/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Jaxson Hayes Contract Raise Doesn’t Allow For Use Of Full Bi-Annual Exception

The NBA’s offseason moratorium period came to an end of Sunday, which signaled the start of the new league year and the ability for the Los Angeles Lakers to officially make roster moves.

Those moves included completed a historic seven-team trade that landed them 36th overall draft pick Adou Thiero. They then inked Thiero to his rookie contract while also signing their three free agents in Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Jaxson Hayes.

Hayes’ contract was reported to be for one year, but the money was not yet known. The Lakers had the ability to give him a 120% raise on his contract from last season and according to Bobby Marks of ESPN, that’s exactly what they did with Hayes set to make $3.4 million:

I have the Lakers able to use up to $3.9M of their $5.1M Bi-annual Exception should they waive Shake Milton's non-guaranteed contract. Hayes' salary is $3.4M (120% of his 6 YOS min, though they had Early Bird)

— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) July 7, 2025

This complicates the Lakers’ offseason a bit as they are hard-capped at the first apron of the salary cap after using their non-taxpayer mid-level exception. That also gives them use of the $5.1 million bi-annual exception (BAE), which has not been used.

In order to have access to that though, the Lakers must stay below that first apron of $195.9 million. L.A. is currently at $195 million and the easiest way to get closer to opening up the full BAE would be to waive Shake Milton’s $3 million non-guaranteed contract. Even still though, that would only open up $3.9 million of spending power.

It’s possible that a trade to slash salary is in the works, but until that happens, the Lakers will not be able to offer one of the remaining free agents the full $5.1 million BAE, which could hurt their ability to further improve their roster this summer.

The Lakers have been linked to some potential remaining free agents like De’Anthony Melton and Al Horford, although given how much the market has slowed down in recent days, they may be waiting on a team like L.A. to open up more money to offer.

Luka Doncic involved in Lakers’ offseason plans​

According to recent reports, Luka Doncic is privy to all the moves the Lakers have been making this offseason. He shares an agent, Bill Duffy of WME Basketball, with both of the Lakers’ two center signings in Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes.

The Lakers obviously are hoping to sign Doncic to a contract extension when he becomes eligible in August, so perhaps that was also a factor in giving someone like Hayes a raise on his new contract as a favor to the agency ahead of the upcoming negotiations.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rum...nt-allow-for-use-of-full-bi-annual-exception/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Adou Thiero Contract Details

The Los Angeles Lakers have officially acquired rookie forward Adou Thiero, the No. 36 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft as part of the first ever seven-team trade in league history. The Lakers made two trades on Day 2 of the draft to move up from No. 55 to No. 36 in order to bring Thiero to the purple and gold.

The Lakers have high hopes for the 6’8″ forward who has elite athleticism and could immediately contribute as a defensive stopper as he develops his offensive game. And now details have emerged on the deal Thiero signed with the Lakers with it reportedly being a two-year fully guaranteed contract with a third-year team option worth nearly $6 million, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype:

The Los Angeles Lakers signed No. 36 pick Adou Thiero to a 3-year, $5.95 million deal, which includes two fully guaranteed years and a third-year team option, sources told @hoopshype. He averaged 15.1 points on 54.5% shooting, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.6 steals for Arkansas as a junior pic.twitter.com/hzFstLAucf

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 7, 2025

There is no doubt that Thiero has a ton of potential and is one of the best athletes in this draft. He also takes pride in his defense and embraces his role as a perimeter stopper averaging 1.6 steals a game last season while also being a solid weakside shot blocker.

Offensively, it will be about improving as a 3-point shooter. He shot just 28.4% from deep in three collegiate seasons with his average lowering each year as his attempts increased. While he should be able to thrive off the ball as a slasher and cutter next to Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James his ability to consistently shoot from deep will be the key in how much he will be trusted by head coach JJ Redick.

One thing that is for sure is that Thiero will put in the work to be the best possible player he can be for this team. He has already spoken about how willing he is to do anything asked of him by the coaching staff and that work ethic will bode well for him as he develops.

It is notable that the Lakers were only able to get Thiero on a three-year contract instead of four, which is typically the case for second-round picks. If he pops and develops into a quality rotation player then he will have the ability to hit free agency a year early than most of the other 2025 draft picks.

Adou Thiero to miss Summer League with knee injury​

Unfortunately, everyone will have to wait until the preseason to get their first look at Adou Thiero as the Lakers rookie will be sitting out Summer League as he finishes recovering from a knee injury he dealt with at Arkansas. He is reportedly in the final stages of his return-to-play program and should be good to go once training camp begins.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-adou-thiero-contract-details/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Rumors: Interest In Bradley Beal If Bought Out By Suns

This offseason has been a slow-moving one for the Los Angeles Lakers as Rob Pelinka still has a lot of work to do to get the team back into championship contention.

The team has made some solid additions in free agency, bringing in Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia while re-signing Jaxson Hayes. None of those signings really move the needle though, so if Pelinka wants Luka Doncic to sign an extension in August and for LeBron James not to ask out, further upgrades are necessary.

One option that appears to soon be available is Bradley Beal. The Phoenix Suns have wanted to trade Beal for a while but his no-trade clause and supermax contract have not allowed them to do so, resulting in him likely being bought out. If that happens then Beal will be a free agent and can sign with any team, with the Lakers being among those expressing interest, per NBA insider Jake Fischer:

Some confirmed suitors for Beal include the LA Clippers — fresh off agreeing to trade Norman Powell to Miami in a three-team deal that will bring back Utah’s John Collins — as well as the Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee and Minnesota.

While Beal isn’t the player he once was, he is coming off a season in which he averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 38.6% from deep in 53 games for the Suns. While that is not max-level production, the 32-year-old is still someone that can contribute in the right situation, especially if it is on a minimum-type contract.

Adding Beal to the mix would not help improve the Lakers’ defense, which is their biggest need right now. In a vacuum though the signing would be great value, and perhaps opens up the possibility for other trades to improve L.A.’s defense.

Lakers have belief in Maxi Kleber as stretch-five​

The Lakers needed to address the center position this offseason and did so by signing both Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes. That gives Luka Doncic two lob threats to work with, which has typically led to success.

If the Lakers are going to add a third center then they likely would want someone that can stretch the floor to bring a different dynamic to the mix. They already have a player on the roster that can do that in Maxi Kleber and recent reports indicate the team is not in a rush to add another center before of their belief in him.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-rumors-interest-in-bradley-beal-if-bought-out-by-suns/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Deandre Ayton Excited To Join Lakers & Be Back In ‘Winning Situation’

The Los Angeles Lakers came into this offseason in need of a center and they found one in former No. 1 overall pick Deandre Ayton. The Portland Trail Blazers surprisingly agreed to a buyout with Ayton prior to the start of free agency and the Lakers immediately made him a priority target, ultimately agreeing to a two-year deal with the big man.

The pairing made sense on both sides as Ayton will step into a starting role on this Lakers team and will greatly benefit from playing next to Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James, who will make life easy on him offensively. For the Lakers, Ayton provides that big, physical presence the team needs in the paint who can control the glass.

The Lakers are happy to have Ayton on board and the big man is also excited to join the purple and gold after first thanking the Trail Blazers organization for his time there.

“I want to say first, thanks to the Portland Trail Blazers. Great organization as well,” Ayton said at his introductory press conference. “It wasn’t tough making this decision, but you know, just taking my time and embracing being a free agent and just learning how this thing works properly. The teams that me and my agents evaluated during that time span, I feel that the Lakers was the best fit.

“Being around the two best playmakers in the league, and just Laker Nation, having the fan base behind them (like) I’ve never seen before and just to be a part of it, knowing the winning legacy that this organization has. I know the expectations. I know that winning means a lot here.”

Ayton also added that returning to a winning culture was a big factor for him in signing with the Lakers.

“Yeah, most definitely. On the Trail Blazers, they had a different route,” he said. “Me, I wanted to be in a winning situation and my agents and I finally got a chance in free agency just to finally evaluate. I feel like the Lakers were the best position. They want to win a championship right now and I want to win right now as well and just be part of a winning legacy and be around winners. And everyone said it was something difficult to think about, but it just brings me back to playing with the Suns and being part of a winning organization. Once you win, everything is easy, really.

“And that’s what I want to be a part of again. The last two years was just a different route for me and I just learned a lot that when you don’t win in this league, you can be forgotten. I’m just glad Lakers Nation welcomed me with open arms.”

Last season, Ayton averaged 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds for the Trail Blazers while being limited to just 40 games due to injury. Those numbers are a slight bit down from his career averages of 16.4 points and 10.5 rebounds while his 56.6% field goal percentage was his lowest since his second NBA season. But Ayton sees the opportunity in front of him with the Lakers and understands he has a great chance for a bounce-back season.

The talent of Ayton is undeniable and, while there were some reports about attitude concerns in Portland, he has some people within the Lakers organization vouching for him. Not to mention the chance to pair with Doncic, who is also part of that 2018 NBA Draft class that will go down as one of the greatest ever, and with whom he shares an agent, also increases his excitement for what this season can become.

Deandre Ayton to wear jersey No. 5 with Lakers​

Deandre Ayton will be sporting a new jersey number with the Lakers as his previous No. 2 is being worn by Jarred Vanderbilt and the No. 22 he wore in Phoenix is retired by the Lakers for Elgin Baylor. So Ayton will be wearing No. 5 in the purple and gold.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/deandre-ayton-excited-to-join-lakers-be-back-in-winning-situation/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Highlights: Darius Bazley & Dalton Knecht Shine In California Classic Finale Against Spurs

After splitting their first two games of the California Classic against the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat, the Los Angeles Lakers ended their exhibition schedule against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Lakers picked up their first win of the summer against the Heat and went into their matchup hoping to replicate that success against the Spurs. For a while, it seemed like L.A. would drop their final game, but a furious flurry of 3-pointers and clutch defense allowed them to win their finale 89-88. The Lakers finished the California Classic 2-1 overall.

Throughout the Classic, Darius Bazley had been the most consistent two-way player the Lakers had and he saved his best for last as he was everywhere against the Spurs. Bazley’s size, length and athleticism was too much for San Antonio on certain possessions, especially defensively where he was able to wreak havoc all over the floor.

Offensively, Bazley showed off what could do going downhill as he simply overpowered and finished through Spurs defenders for strong finishes at the rim. Bazley played with a lot of confidence on the floor and it translated to several highlight-reel moments.

Bazley had the play of the game late in the fourth quarter when he was able to dunk home a Dalton Knecht missed 3-pointer to give Los Angeles the lead. On San Antonio’s final possession, Bazley took on the defensive assignment and was able to force a miss that led to the Lakers win.

Bazley led all scorers with 27 points but he also added 13 rebounds, two assists and one block.

Knecht had largely struggled entering the matchup against the Spurs, but he finally had the breakout offensive night the team had been waiting for. Knecht was aggressive in the first quarter, forcing the issue for baskets all over the floor. He had eight early points, but slowed down in the middle of the game as San Antonio focused more defensive attention his way.

However, with the Lakers trailing for most of the fourth quarter Knecht took it upon himself to will the team back into the game. Knecht drained several tough 3-pointers in the final minutes of the game, opening up an opportunity to steal the game.

Knecht finished with 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting including 4-of-8 from distance. He also pulled down eight rebounds.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers will travel to Nevada where they’ll open 2025 Las Vegas Summer League on Thursday against Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks. They’ll then take on the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-hig...e-in-california-classic-finale-against-spurs/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

2025 Emirates NBA Cup: Lakers In West Group B With Mavericks, Clippers, Grizzlies & Pelicans

The Los Angeles Lakers made history during the 2023-24 season by becoming the first ever NBA In-Season Tournament Champions. While the tournament was met with some criticism, it has brought excitement to the early part of the regular season that was not previously there.

The league made some changes going into the tournament’s second season, rebranding it as the Emirates NBA Cup. The Lakers weren’t able to replicate their success in Year 2 with the Milwaukee Bucks beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in Las Vegas to claim their first NBA Cup.

Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Lakers will be looking to get back on track and the beginning of that road is now known as the groups for the Emirates NBA Cup were revealed. The lakers wound up in West Group B along with L.A. Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans.

It’s a tough group as all five of those teams have visions of competing in 2025-26, although that is the case for basically all of the Western Conference teams.

The format for the tournament will not change this year. Each team will play four group stage games on ‘Cup Nights’ between Oct. 31 and Nov. 28, presumably on Tuesday and Friday nights as they’ve done in past years. Following that, eight teams will advance to the knockout stage, each of the six group winners as well as one wildcard team in each conference.

The quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup will take place on Dec. 9 and 10 in team markets with the semi-finals and finals once again happening at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 13 and 16, respectively.

With the league welcoming a new broadcaster this season, knockout round games will be broadcast on Amazon Prime.

The full schedule for the Emirates NBA Cup will be released later, but it is known that the Lakers’ group play home games will be against the Clippers and Mavericks while they will then travel to the Grizzlies and Pelicans.

Lakers and other 2025 Emirates NBA Cup groups​

West Group A: Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, Utah Jazz

West Group B: Los Angeles Lakers, L.A. Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans

West Group C: Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs

East Group A: Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards

East Group B: Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers

East Group C: New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/2025-emira...b-with-mavericks-clippers-grizzlies-pelicans/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Deandre Ayton Compares Teaming With Luka Doncic To ‘Video Game’

Deandre Ayton was officially introduced as a Los Angeles Lakers following his buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers, cementing his status as the next starting center for the team.

There is a lot of hope for Ayton in Los Angeles because of his size, youth and talent. He is an instant upgrade over the big men the team had previously and seems motivated to get back to being in a winning situation.

Not only did the Lakers need Ayton, but he needs the team as well because of players like Luka Doncic and LeBron James who can revitalize his career.

At his introductory press conference, Ayton acknowledged playing next to Doncic and Jame is a huge opportunity.

“They both average about nine assists over their career span, and just the type of players they create with their teammates,” Ayton said of Doncic and James. “They turn them into superstars, they make them bigger than their roles, they make them very important on the floor. Just seeing that and finally getting the chance to go in and experience that would be big for me. Just getting me back to my full form of how I used to play, you know, coming up and being a part of the (NBA) Finals. It’s those playmakers I’m used to having around me that’s leading to wins.”

When it comes to working with Doncic specifically, Ayton laid out how he envisions their pairing working.

“It should be quite fun,” Ayton added. “I like to let my ball handlers do what they do and they lead me through the rest. Luka, he’s black-and-white in the pick-and-roll. He puts so much pressure on the rim. You have to be willing to finish above the rim and finish your rolls and then just do your part. I think I’ve gotten a little cheat code playing with the playmakers I’ve played with in my past coming up through the league.

“And I’m pretty aware of how to get guys open and either to play in the pocket or roll straight to the rim. But it’s all about putting pressure on the rim and finishing at a high level. And I think that’s where they’ll really emphasize the pick-and-roll, because they’re great passers as well. And the type of guys they are, it puts [the defense] in a bind, just playing that cat-and-mouse game with the pick-and-roll.”

Ayton didn’t get much of a chance to talk to Doncic following his signing but they did manage to touch base.

“I spoke with Luka for a little bit. I’m pretty sure they’re all busy this offseason, I know Luka is handling his thing right now. But just a quick follow and things like that, just saying hello and just checking in.”

Overall, Ayton said all the right things but now it’ll be up to him to prove that he’s ready for what lies ahead.

Deandre Ayton says it feels like a video game to be teammates with Luka Doncic​

Deandre Ayton was selected first overall in the 2018 NBA Draft, but now finds himself teaming up with Luka Doncic who went third. Ayton admitted that it feels scripted the two are now joining forces.

“This feels like a video game. Like somebody set it up. Like somebody set this up. But honestly, this is an opportunity that I won’t take for granted. Luka is a once-in-a-generation player and I’m happy to be his teammate. Hearing about the kind of shape he’s been in, he’s super ripped and I’m finally glad to be on his side when he’s doing all of that. And I’m just truly excited. I’m a student of the game and I love to play with a passion. And the love I have received and I’ve not even thrown on a jersey, I can only show you guys my appreciation.”

Ayton sounds genuinely excited to play with Doncic and it’ll be fun to see how they pan out as pick and roll partners.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-deandre-ayton-compares-teaming-with-luka-doncic-to-video-game/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers Summer League Highlights: Cole Swider & Dalton Knecht Hot Shooting Not Enough Against Mavericks

Coming off a win against the San Antonio Spurs to close the California Classic, the Los Angeles Lakers traveled to Nevada to take part in 2025 Las Vegas Summer League.

The Lakers drew the main event against Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night, setting up a showdown between Bronny James and the No. 1 overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. James had previously made his debut earlier in the California Classic, but this was the first opportunity for fans to get a look at Flagg in NBA action.

While James didn’t initially start out guarding Flagg, the two found themselves matched up a couple of times much to the delight of the Thomas & Mack Center crowd. There was a sequence where James poked the ball away from Flagg but the latter responded by draining a jumper over him.

Unfortunately for Los Angeles, they couldn’t quite get over the hump as another disappointing third quarter was too much for them to overcome. The Lakers lost to the Mavericks 87-85, though they had a chance to win as James missed a 3-pointer on the team’s final possession.

Cole Swider has been on a heater from the field all summer and his hot shooting continued in the Las Vegas desert. While all the attention was on James anad Flagg, Swider was the primary source of offense for Los Angeles who did a good job finding him for quality shots.

Swider’s 3-point shooting opened up the half court offense for his teammates and kept the Dallas defense honest every time they tried to pack the paint on drives. Swider led the team in scoring with 22 points to go along with 10 rebounds, one assist and one steal. All six of his made field goals were from beyond the arc.

Dalton Knecht had a solid encore performance after breaking out against the Spurs as he remained aggressive shooting the basketball. Knecht was knocked down his first triple of the night and from there seemed to be in a good rhythm.

Knecht did well to attack closeouts and keep the basketball moving, though he was unable to finish the game after suffering what appeared to be a leg cramp. Knecht’s ended with 15 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal.

What’s next for the Lakers​

The Lakers will continue their Summer League schedule with a game on Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans. They’ll then take on the L.A. Clippers on Monday.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-sum...ht-hot-shooting-not-enough-against-mavericks/

 

[Los Angeles Lakers]

Lakers News: Dalton Knecht Feeling More Comfortable In Second Summer League

Heading into his sophomore season, Dalton Knecht was a player to keep an eye on for the Los Angeles Lakers during Summer League as teams expect second-year players to show considerable development.

However, Knecht struggled in his first two games at the California Classic, causing some concern as his shot was not falling at the rate it normally does.

Knecht shot a combined 5-for-20 from the field against the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat, but he was able to bounce back with a 25-point and eight-rebound performance against the San Antonio Spurs before heading to Las Vegas. Despite his shots not falling, Knecht is not concerned and said after the Lakers’ Las Vegas Summer League opener that he is feeling more comfortable this time around compared to last year.

“Last year was a lot more nerve-wracking, first time ever being on an NBA court in front of the NBA environment,” he said. “It’s a lot more relaxed and I feel more comfortable out there (this year). I feel like that’s something me and Bronny always said to each other the whole entire time. We feel more comfortable out there.”

Admittedly, wins and losses do not matter this time of year, but signs of development do. Putting up points comes naturally for Knecht, but it is doing the little things like becoming a better defender and rebounder that he is focused on.

“Just staying aggressive and playing aggressive defense and grabbing rebounds,” Knecht said. “Just trying to be an overall leader, during timeouts try to talk and be a vocal leader.”

In his rookie season with the Lakers, the former Tennessee Volunteer produced scoring outbursts that impacted winning. However, head coach JJ Redick could not rely on him for longer stints due to his defensive concerns.

At 6’6″ and 215 pounds, Knecht possesses a frame that should be able to defend at a respectable level. But his defensive IQ has yet to develop and he lacks the lateral speed to contain matchups.

Ultimately, he does not need to become an All-NBA defender but Knecht needs to play well in Redick’s defensive system to earn minutes. With a few Summer League games left, the hope is he shows strides in other areas of his game outside of scoring.

Dalton Knecht details offseason conversations with JJ Redick​

When hired by the Lakers, head coach JJ Redick emphasized wanting to develop talent in-house. Dalton Knecht is an early test subject of that and as he begins his second season needing to build on other areas of his game to become a consistent rotational piece for L.A.

As a competitor, Knecht wants to be on the floor and he needs to provide what Redick is looking for to get out there. It looks like both parties are in close communication, as Knecht revealed the conversations he has had with Redick so far this offseason.

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Source: https://lakersnation.com/lakers-news-dalton-knecht-feeling-more-comfortable-in-second-summer-league/