Nuggets could acquire Dalton Knecht in three-team deal with Lakers

According to the article by Gautam Variel, a columnist of the US sports media F/W. The Denver Nuggets were eliminated in the league semifinals for the second consecutive year, losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Nuggets are expected to take action this offseason, with B/R's Greg Swartz rankling Los Angeles Lakers' Kneckett as one of their dream goals. "Knecht is the perfect catch-and-shooting option placed next to Jokic, and if the Lakers try to trade a new starting center, the Nuggets may join as the third team."

Nuggets can certainly have a shooter like Kneckett. The 24-year-old rookie averaged 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.8 steals and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 37.6% from the field from the arc. Now, this hit rate is really impressive, but it is indeed dragged down by a terrible team. In December 2024, Knecht shot 15.6% from the outside, which was his rookie season. Then, at the end of the regular season, he shot very well from the field, shooting 42.0% from the field in March and 45.5% from the field in April.

Although he found his shooting technique, head coach Redick did not allow him to make the playoff rotation. It was obvious that when the Lakers included him in Mark Williams’ trade (later cancelled), they didn’t mind breaking up with him, and his role in the playoffs only made that even more obvious. Knecht's shooting isn't more than his struggles with the Lakers' defense, and you'll expect him to be elsewhere at the start of next season. His involvement in a deal that allowed them to get center is the most likely outcome, and the Nuggets may try to participate in it. One of the important reasons why the Nuggets lost to the Thunder was that they were unable to score from the outside. They shot 31.4% from three-pointers in the series, and Gordon (44.1%) is their only reliable shooter. This allowed the Thunder to focus on Jokic as most of his teammates failed to get them to pay for the open space. Kneckett will help in this regard. The biggest question, however, is whether the Lakers want to help Western Conference contenders. They don't have to include a third team in the trade to get a center, and they can decide not to help the Nuggets.

So, who will they target? Phoenix Suns' Reus O'Neal and Sacramento Kings' Keane Ellis are two other options. O'Neal averaged 9.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks per game for the Suns in 2024-25, while shooting 40.6% from the outside. Meanwhile, Ellis averaged 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks for the Kings, shooting 43.3% from three-pointers.

O'Neal and Ellis are also quite excellent defenders, unlike Knecht. Defense is also a problem for the Nuggets this season, so these two will help solve both of their problems. It would be interesting to see what actions they will eventually take this summer, as the Nuggets reportedly reluctant to break up their championship core. Jokic obviously will never be on the negotiating table, but neither will Gordon, Murray, Porter Jr. and Braun.