The Lakers’ preseason roster crunch was ultimately solved by cutting Dalton Knecht, an unceremonious end to his once-promising Lakers career.
It was also an anticlimactic ending to the team’s search for a solution that didn’t involve just waiving Knecht. While they hoped to find a backup center, multiple teams in the league were also looking for ways to consolidate the roster without waiving a player.
One name that came up was Jericho Sims. The athletic big man has been on the Lakers’ radar for some
time now and, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the team had discussions with the Bucks about him. However, in his latest newsletter on Saturday, Fischer revealed a gap in draft picks was the difference that led to the deal not getting done.
There were indeed talks with the Lakers about a swap headlined by Dalton Knecht and Jericho Sims, as The Stein Line first revealed on Oct. 15, but sources say those discussions were derailed by Milwaukee’s intent to extract two future second-round picks in the deal and the Lakers’ insistence that they part with only one in exchange for Sims.
Through two games this season, Sims has played 1:52, all that coming in the third quarter of the team’s loss in the first game of the season to the Wizards.
It’s still early in the season, so his role could change. But is he going to be a big enough piece to turn down draft compensation for him? Especially when he’s on an expiring contract as well?
Granted, every team should have a line in the sand they won’t cross. For the Lakers, including two second round picks does feel like a step too far. That would, effectively, be trading Deandre Ayton for Jericho Sims, since that’s where the team got the second round picks.
Is Sims a better fit than Ayton? Certainly. But Ayton is a better player than Sims, so from a talent standpoint, that trade wouldn’t make sense. You could argue you’re attaching a player to offload in that as well, but it still feels like the right call from the Lakers to not pull the trigger on that deal.
Given how bad Kevon Looney has looked through the first two games of the season, though, it does seem like the team will have to make a move for a backup center. At least we know they are actively searching for an upgrade.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
