With the Los Angeles Lakers losing Gabe Vincent for a few weeks due to an ankle injury, on top of the team already dealing with a slew of health issues, it would make sense for them to get active on the trade market.
One idea that could make a ton of sense is trading for Collin Sexton.
While the injury isn’t a massive deal for the team’s rest of season outlook, it’s important for the Lakers to not fall behind early on if they can avoid it. While an ankle injury shouldn’t be serious, it would be a much safer play for the Lakers to try to bring in another guard who can help the team win now.
Here’s what a possible trade between the Lakers and Hornets could look like:
Collin Sexton Trade Proposal to the Los Angeles Lakers
Despite a 2-1 start to the year, many expect the Charlotte Hornets to continue on with their rebuild this year. Sexton isn’t especially old at 26 years old, but he’s not necessarily a cornerstone asset. For that reason, sending Sexton away now could make sense at this cost. The deal that would make the most sense is as follows. On the Lakers’ side, they receive Collin Sexton and DaQuan Jeffries. For the Hornets, they get Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt, Maxi Kleber, and a 2032 2nd-round pick.
The most appealing part of this deal is the Hornets getting younger and betting on Knecht, who’s just 24 years old. Knecht was the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, and there’s certainly a lot of upside, even if he hasn’t been great yet. Not only is Sexto a proven asset who could help the Lakers a ton, but he’s also a free agent after this year, providing the Lakers with financial flexibility next offseason. All things considered, the value of this deal seems extremely fair, and it gives both sides a reason to say yes.
Other Collin Sexton Landing Spots
One trade idea that’s been thrown out there is the Minnesota Timberwolves. Matt Levine wrote this article for TWSN to outline his case for why the move should happen.
Levine would go on to say, “Sexton could help take some of the burden off veteran Mike Conley, and he could allow Conley to rest during the season. This could ensure that Conley is healthy and ready to go for the postseason run.” The idea behind this trade makes sense as well. The question is more so about whether the Hornets would find a deal that’s more appealing than what they could get from the Lakers.
Ultimately, trading Sexton for Knecht plus is a very good option.
Collin Sexton Stats
Sexton has been putting up some strong stats each year, scoring over 18 PPG in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. Last year, Sexton had 18.4 PPG, 4.2 AST, and 2.7 REB.
Collin Sexton Contract
Right now, Sexton is playing on a four-year deal worth $70.95 million. Most importantly, though, Sexton is a free agent in the 2026-27 season when he’s 28 years old.
All things considered, the Charlotte Hornets trading Collin Sexton to the Los Angeles Lakers makes sense for both teams.
