Lakers Likely Trade Package for Center Upgrade Revealed

Gozlan proposes flipping a mid-level contract, a la Kleber's deal or the money owed reserve point guard Gabe Vincent, in combination with non-rotation guard Shake Milton's non-guaranteed contract for 2025-26, in addition to some youth.

Gozlan writes that the Lakers "could trade an expiring salary like Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million) with Milton’s $3 million for [Dallas Mavericks center] Daniel Gafford ($14.4 million). Such a deal could come down to including draft equity or a young player like Dalton Knecht."

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Knecht has already been traded by the Lakers. The former Tennessee All-American had an encouraging first half of the season, and was flipped in a deadline deal for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams.

But when Williams failed his Lakers physical, the trade was rescinded, and Knecht — plus the Lakers' 2031 first-round pick — returned to the fold. Knecht was out of the rotation by the end of the year. At least his three-point shooting looked good, although the rest of his game was lacking.

"Some of the best veteran big men available include Brook Lopez, Al Horford, Clint Capela, Luke Kornet, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Precious Achiuwa. But the taxpayer mid-level won’t be enough for most of these players," writes Gozlan. "They may be better off keeping Maxi Kleber or trading his $11 million salary for another big man earning as much or less than him."

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