It's decided! Suddenly requesting a trade! The Lakers' 17th pick sharpshooter

A commendable show of courage; when it comes to deciding one's own life, there should be no hesitation.

According to reports from a US journalist,Knekter took the initiative to contact the Lakers' front office to request a trade, which is expected to be granted...

Last February, the Lakers had planned to send Knekter + Reddish + an unprotected 31-year first-round pick + the 30-year first-round pick swap rights to the Hornets in return for McGee, but the trade was ultimately canceled due to McGee failing the physical.

Having been traded away and then returned, Knekter has appeared quite downcast since rejoining the Lakers. This season, he has fallen out of the rotation and only appears during garbage time. So far, he has played 37 games with 1 start, averaging 12.4 minutes, 4.8 points, and 1.5 rebounds per game, shooting 44.2% and 32.3% on two-point and three-point shots respectively. In his rookie season, he played 78 games with 16 starts, averaging 19.2 minutes, 9.1 points, and 2.8 rebounds, shooting 46.1% and 37.6%.

This guy was born on April 19, 2001, standing 1.98 meters tall with a 2.06-meter wingspan, a versatile wing-guard. He was the 17th pick in the 2024 first round, primarily a shooter who once scored 37 points by hitting 9 three-pointers in a single game. Players of this type are well-suited for today’s fast-paced NBA offense; leaving the Lakers for another team might finally unlock his potential.

However, a few days ago, insider Sidery stated,There’s actually no need for Knekter to request a trade because the Lakers have already been trying to move him. The problem is that almost no teams are interested, and now they’re even willing to include a future second-round pick just to facilitate his departure.

As mentioned, Knekter is already 24, soon turning 25, making him an older sophomore with limited upside left to develop. Additionally, his poor mental toughness might deter potential teams from taking a chance on him.

For a player whose career is just beginning, it’s truly possible that one issue could ruin the entire journey.

So far, the Lakers hold a 28-18 record, ranking fifth in the Western Conference, just 0.5 games ahead of the seventh-place Suns and 0.5 games behind the fourth-place Rockets. Before this year’s trade deadline (February 6), it’s expected that only Knekter will be moved, while the core roster will likely remain intact.