Just last year, Rob Pelinka called Dalton Knecht “a top-10 talent” and “a perfect fit” for the Lakers. But since the Lakers were hunting for a center, they had no choice but to trade Knecht for Mark Williams, until the deal was rescinded after Williams failed his physical. While the Lakers paid the price of not having a good center on their roster by sacrificing their championship chances, Knecht certainly left his mark in his rookie year.

After the blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas and brought in five-time All-NBA guard Luka Doncic, the Lakers were left with a glaring hole at the five. And after Pelinka’s first attempt to fill it with Williams flamed out, the Lakers’ general manager, once again, is back in the market. And if the recent rumors are anything, Los Angeles is ready to sacrifice their rookie star for a fresh duo, despite Knecht’s notable year in 2024.

After securing their next franchise star last year, the Lakers are reported to go all in for Toumani Camara and Onyeka Okongwu this offseason. Okongwu, a 6’10 defensive anchor, and Camara, a rising All-Defensive menace, are on the Lakers’ radar. But don’t get it twisted. This isn’t just roster tinkering. It’s damage control. The 2025 postseason showed that JJ Redick’s team wasn’t in “championship shape,” as he bluntly put it. And if Dalton Knecht can’t be a piece of that puzzle, he might be the price to secure it.

As per Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Blazers’ demands are clear for anyone willing to pursue Camara. “I have heard that the Blazers want something like two firsts for Camara, so maybe they view [Dalton Knecht] and a first as sufficient, but I think Portland probably says no, to be honest,” said Jovan Buha. If the Lakers get an out-of-favor Dalton Knecht for an All-NBA Defensive Second Team-er, they can virtually put their foot in the 2026 NBA Finals. Camara isn’t just a throw-in — he’s one of the few bright spots on a struggling Portland team. With his ability to contain scorers with his length, anticipation, and motor, and around the same age as Dalton, he’d definitely be the perfect replacement.

Nothing personal, it’s just business. But his numbers are still worthy of confidence. Any team would be lucky to have a 9.1/2.8 average in just 19.2 minutes per game. With their own first-round picks tied up for the foreseeable future, the Lakers are starved for assets they can trade. That makes Knecht’s combination of youth, potential, and rookie production a precious commodity Pelinka can leverage.

Turns out, Rob Pelinka already has eyes on Onyeka Okongwu and Toumani Camara

After the Mark Williams deal fell apart at the deadline due to a failed physical — and nearly cost LA their 2031 first-round pick — Pelinka knows he can’t afford another swing-and-miss. Camara isn’t just a Band-Aid; he’s the kind of long-limbed, switchable defender that JJ Redick’s system craves.

As for Onyeka Okongwu, the 6’10 Hawks center—he’s the ideal athletic rim-runner Redick wants anchoring the paint. And he’s on an affordable four-year, $62 million contract. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

“I do know the Lakers made a call to the Hawks around the trade deadline about Okongwu. I think lob threat, athleticism, absolutely. In terms of being a perfect fit, maybe not. They might not get a perfect fit, though. Clint Capela of 17-18 might have been a perfect fit but we’re in 25-26 now. So that is kind of the spot they’re gonna be in,” said Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

Given his team-friendly contract and versatility as both a starter and elite backup, makes him a pragmatic target. And in Los Angeles, he could thrive as the Luka-LeBron pick-and-roll partner AD once was. So we can’t speak for sure on how likely this deal is to happen, but what we can say is that Rob Pelinka is playing with margins.

So, Knecht might be on the move sooner than people think. Especially, with Luka Doncic’s $229 million extension on the table, there’s no time for development experiments. Camara and Okongwu aren’t just targets — they’re course correction. And with Pelinka thinking in playoff units, these two can very well plug into a playoff rotation tomorrow.