The Los Angeles Lakers still have a roster decision to make before the regular season begins. But finding a trade to solve their numbers problem may be easier said than done. With Los Angeles currently carrying more players than it can take into the regular season, a consolidation trade involving Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy has been floated as a possible solution.
In theory, the Lakers could package Knecht and Hardy together in exchange for one player. This would cut the roster down to 15. The problem is that Los Angeles isn’t the only team around the NBA currently dealing with a crowded roster.
Limited Trade Partners
Most teams around the league currently have more than 15 players on their roster as they work through training camp and the preseason. While those rosters will eventually be trimmed, the current numbers make it hard for the Lakers to find a team willing to take both Knecht and Hardy in a two-for-one trade.
A team trading for two players while sending only one back would need enough open spots to add another player. If not, they’d have to make another move themselves. This makes it much harder for the Lakers to find a realistic trade partner.
Even if teams have the space, there is no guarantee they would be interested in taking on both players. Los Angeles could potentially be asked to attach draft compensation to incentivize another team to help solve its roster problem.
Lakers Shouldn’t Force a Trade
A consolidation trade would make sense if the Lakers could get a player that could make the rotation. That way, they’d fix their roster problem and also make the team better for a championship run.
However, attaching meaningful draft capital simply to move two players for one would be much harder to justify. If the primary benefit of a trade is opening a roster spot, the Lakers may be better off keeping their future assets and making a cut instead.
That distinction could ultimately determine whether a deal materializes. Los Angeles doesn’t necessarily need to make a trade. It simply needs to get its roster down to the required limit before the regular season.
Waiving a Player Remains an Option
If the Lakers can’t find a worthwhile consolidation trade, waiving either Knecht or Hardy would be a much simpler solution. It would mean losing a player without receiving anything in return, but that could still be preferable to sacrificing additional assets just to facilitate a deal.
The situation could change as teams around the league begin making their own roster cuts. A team that currently doesn’t have room for two incoming players could suddenly become a viable trade partner after trimming its roster, giving the Lakers reason to remain patient.
For now, though, the Lakers’ options appear limited by a problem shared by much of the league. With most teams currently carrying more than 15 players, finding somewhere to send both Knecht and Hardy in a consolidation trade may prove difficult.
Unless Los Angeles finds a deal that actually improves the roster, simply making a cut could ultimately be the more practical solution.
