Lakers discuss sending Knecht and second-round capital to Bucks for Sims
The Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks have held exploratory trade discussions on a framework that would send Dalton Knecht and second-round draft capital to Milwaukee for center Jericho Sims, Jake Fischer reported Thursday on Marc Stein's Substack. Fischer also wrote that he had heard "some pessimism from sources briefed on those talks that such a trade will actually go through."
The picks involved, Sims's salary and Knecht's salary and guarantee for 2026-27 were not disclosed.
The Lakers have 16 guaranteed contracts and must reach 15 standard-contract players by Monday, October 19, Yardbarker reported. A one-for-one swap would not lower that count, so another move, such as Milwaukee or a third team taking Jaden Hardy, would still be needed, according to HEAVY.
Yardbarker reported the Bucks also carry more guaranteed contracts than standard roster spots. HEAVY reported that Sims would join Kevon Looney as a backup behind starting center Walker Kessler, who played 5 games for the Utah Jazz last season because of injury.
Knecht was the No. 17 pick in the 2024 draft and averaged 9.1 points on 37.6% three-point shooting as a rookie, Bleacher Report noted. He fell out of the rotation in 2025-26, averaging 4.2 points on 34.2% from three, and his minus-8.5 net rating was the worst among Lakers who played at least 30 games, per NBA.com figures cited by Bleacher Report.
His $4.0M salary last season ranked 270th of the 435 rated players. His production, a season total earned in 54 of the team's 82 games, ranked 357th, for a WAGE Score of 28, Under Water.
In 2024-25, at the same salary rank, his production ranked 182nd.
If no deal materializes before Monday, Fischer wrote, the Lakers "might be forced" to waive Knecht to get down to 15.