New Report Suggests Lakers Fumbled Chance To Trade For Magic Center

A new report from a Lakers insider suggests Los Angeles missed the opportunity to trade for an Orlando Magic center.

Dec 6, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) talks to head coach JJ Redick against the Atlanta Hawks in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Although the Los Angeles Lakers signed former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton to address their lack of frontcourt, he cannot hold down the interior on his own.

Past years actually show quite the opposite, as there are countless clips of Ayton acting lazy on defense. In order to bolster the big man room further, many proposed trade scenarios between the Lakers and Orlando saw L.A. land center Goga Bitadze. The pitched return for the Magic was often highlighted by rising sophomore guard Dalton Knecht, but a new report suggests this option is potentially off the table.

Lakers insider Jovan Buha shared Knecht's play in NBA Summer League greatly tanked his value on the trade market, enough for organizations to no longer view him as a former first-round pick.

“Summer League has not helped Knecht’s stock, and I don’t think at this point he is valued as a first-round pick, in terms of an asset valuation," Buha said on his podcast. "That was what I heard in Vegas from talking to multiple people, non-Lakers people, just gauging what would you give for Dalton Knecht? Or if the Lakers are putting Dalton Knecht in a trade, what is he worth? And the feedback I got was, no longer worth a first-round valuation.”

There are certainly other packages the Lakers can offer Orlando's front office, but none will have a piece as valuable as Knecht once was. The idea was simple: the Magic gain another young piece capable of providing shooting while the Lakers add a win-now frontcourt talent on a cheap contract.

With this report, the Magic no longer hold nearly as much incentive to engage in any negotiations surrounding Bitadze and the Lakers.

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