Lakers' Dalton Knecht says trade chaos 'felt like a movie' - ESPN

SALT LAKE CITY — In the span of a week, Dalton Knecht went from playing for the Los Angeles Lakers to joining the Charlotte Hornets to going back to the Lakers after the trade that sent him to Charlotte was rescinded.

Wearing purple and gold again in L.A.'s 131-119 loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, Knecht reflected on the chaotic circumstances for the first time.

«It was a crazy time,» Knecht said after scoring 10 points in 17 minutes against the Jazz. «It felt like a movie.»

Knecht said he was at the Lakers' practice facility last Wednesday going through his normal routine before his shooting drills — needing to make 25 shots from the foul line — when he was interrupted after his 20th free throw.

Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' vice president of basketball operations and general manager, wanted to see him in his office. Knecht was informed he was traded, along with Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap and the Lakers' 2031 first-round pick, to Charlotte for 7-foot center Mark Williams.

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

Knecht flew from L.A. to Charlotte on Thursday to onboard with his new team. Then he flew from Charlotte to Detroit on Saturday, anticipating his first game with Hornets coming against the Pistons on Sunday.

Once in Detroit, he heard from Pelinka again. The trade was off.

«Rob called me and said, 'You're coming back,'» Knecht said. «I was just excited to go out there and hoop, no matter where I was going.»

Knecht flew from Detroit back to L.A. on Sunday and met with Pelinka and coach JJ Redick on Monday.

«I just want to go hoop. I told that to JJ and Rob,» Knecht said. «I get it's a business, so at the end of the day, I told them, 'Let's just go play basketball.'»

Knecht was on the