NBA Notes: Lakers, Dalton Knecht, Clippers, Ben Simmons, Mavericks

LAKERS

Speaking for the first time since a whirlwind series of moves that saw him traded from the Lakers to the Hornets, and then sent back to LA, when the deal was voided, Dalton Knecht described the events as “crazy” and said it felt “like a movie,” according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.

Knecht was called into Lakers GM Rob Pelinka‘s office last Wednesday, just a day before the trade deadline, where he was informed he was being sent to Charlotte along with Cam Reddish and draft assets in exchange for Mark Williams. The 23-year-old forward admitted the news was difficult to process.

“It was hard,” Knecht said. “I got drafted here, so L.A. means a lot.”

After flying from Los Angeles to Charlotte last Thursday, Knecht reported to the Hornets, but by Saturday he was en route to Detroit for a game against the Pistons.

During his time in Detroit, Pelinka called again, revealing that the trade had fallen through due to concerns over Williams’ physical examination. Knecht returned to L.A. on Sunday and met with Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick the following day.

“Rob called me and said, ‘You’re coming back,'” Knecht recalled. “I was just excited to go out there and hoop, no matter where I was going. … I just want to go hoop. I told that to J.J. and Rob. I get it’s a business, so at the end of the day, I told them, ‘Let’s just go play basketball.’”

Knecht’s transition back to the Lakers was seamless, as he rejoined the rotation on Wednesday, contributing 10 points and hitting 3-of-7 from beyond the arc in the loss to Utah.

As for Williams, the player central to the trade, he was absent from the Hornets’ games on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday, with his status listed as “not with team.” Meanwhile, Reddish was inactive for personal reasons after the birth of his child.

CLIPPERS

Ben Simmons made a strong debut with the Clippers in Thursday’s 110-98 win at Utah, contributing 12 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals in 27 minutes off the bench.

Coach Tyronn Lue lauded the former All-Star’s performance, highlighting his quick integration with the team.

“I thought he did a great job, just reading the game, his IQ, making the right play, aggressive to the basket,” Lue said, per Law Murray of The Athletic. 

MAVERICKS

Mavericks center Daniel Gafford has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 MCL sprain in his right knee and is expected to be sidelined for six weeks, per Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon of ESPN.

Gafford sustained the injury on Monday, with an initial two-week recovery timeline given, but the prognosis has worsened. This setback compounds the Mavericks’ ongoing injury woes, with Dereck Lively already expected to miss significant time due to a stress fracture in his right ankle.

Dallas is also facing uncertainty regarding Anthony Davis’ adductor strain, likely keeping him out until March.