• The Lakers are trying to solve two problems at once: trim a crowded roster and keep the group on the same page long enough for the season to start taking shape.
  • On the other is JJ Redick’s coaching staff, which is trying to build continuity with players in and out of the lineup during preseason.
  • That tension is what makes the next few weeks tricky.
  • If they do make a trade, the names most often mentioned in the reporting are Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy, both on expiring contracts.
  • The Lakers have been exploring a 2-for-1 trade for months that could send a combination of Jarred Vanderbilt, Jaden Hardy, and Dalton Knecht out in exchange for one player coming back.
  • They also explored a trade for Buddy Hield, but it never came together.
  • So the Lakers are left with a familiar preseason balancing act: keep enough flexibility to improve the roster, but avoid making a move that slows the chemistry they are still trying to build.