JJ Redick and the LA Lakers are rolling right now. The team have moved up to the two-seed in the Western Conference with a 38-21 record.
The Luka Doncic trade has given the LA Lakers a boost in the short-term, in addition to being a very smart long-term move for the future of the franchise.
It was just one of two moves the Lakers made at the trade deadline. But the team’s second move ended up falling through.
The Lakers traded for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams to fill a much-needed role on the team. And the move was hailed by Lakers’ legend Magic Johnson.
And then it collapsed. Williams did not pass the Lakers’ medical and the trade was rescinded, a move that greatly upset the Hornets.
The LA Lakers paid a big price to land Mark Williams, giving up Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and their 2031 first round draft pick. All of these assets came back to the Lakers, with ESPN’s Bobby Marks suggesting they may have got lucky.
Dalton Knecht has had it tough since returning to the Lakers, but an opportunity has opened up following the injury to Austin Reaves, and he took full advantage the 108-102 win over the Clippers, scoring 19 points.
Former Lakers star James Worthy says he is quietly pleased the trade fell through, because he believes rookie prospect Knecht is a big asset to the team.
He said: “When he came here, he was the talk of training camp. And in those first few weeks, we just thought we had a gem getting him at 17th pick. And you know, I’m kind of glad trade got rescinded, you know what I mean, because he’s really good.
“It’s just part of the business. He’s a commodity in this league.”
Worthy added that there are other aspects of Knecht’s game that make him so valuable, in addition to his shooting.
He said: “His offensive rebounding, he just doesn’t spectate. He does have long arms, so his defense can be pretty good. That’s team defense.
“He’s not gonna lock anybody up, but he’s learning, and I think he’s gaining confidence, and he’s back home.”
Dalton Knecht would have joined a desperate situation at the Charlotte Hornets, who are on a six game losing streak.
While he would have got more minutes, it quite likely would have been less enjoyable playing on the 14th best team in the Eastern Conference, in comparison to the two-seed in the West.
Mark Williams is still putting up numbers, he recently showed out with a 26 point 16 rebounds performance against the Mavericks.
There is a strong chance that if he was on the Lakers, Worthy would have no regrets, and Knecht would have quickly been forgotten. But as it is, there is little reason for the Lakers to have regrets at this point, with the team on a win streak.
