BREAKING NEWS: Lakers announced Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu has signed with the Lakers in a deal valued…

The Los Angeles Lakers are far from finished making moves. According to ClutchPoints Senior Lakers source Anthony Irwin, the Purple and Gold are hoping to “reignite trade talks” ahead of the 2025 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. One name Irwin mentioned as a potential target for the Lakers is Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu, who could be the next to go after the Bulls’ moves earlier this offseason.

Dosunmu has been mentioned as a potential trade target for the Bulls, following Chicago’s acquisition of Isaac Okoro from the Cleveland Cavaliers in a straight swap for Lonzo Ball. The former second-round pick is in the final year of his deal, and the Bulls may have found a de facto successor, leaving the door open for the Lakers to acquire him.

Dosunmu was unable to complete the 2024-25 season because of a left shoulder injury, which cut short what was shaping up to be a solid season for the 25-year-old guard. He has all the makings of a winning player; he works hard on defense, is eager to pass the ball and make plays for teammates, and is only about to begin his prime years.

With that, here’s the deal the Lakers must make to get the talented Bulls guard.

The Lakers have had great expectations for Dalton Knecht after drafting him with the 17th overall choice in the 2024 NBA Draft. And the hype was not without substance. There were evenings when Knecht seemed uncontrollable, causing rain from beyond the arc. In his rookie season, he shot 37.6 percent from three on 4.4 attempts per game, despite some really difficult deep shots.

Knecht is the type of player that competitive teams value because of his ability to apply pressure on opposing opponents with his gravity while spotting up or coming off curls, pindowns, and flare screens. Head coach JJ Redick is a big fan of the Tennessee product.

Unfortunately, Knecht’s impact faded at the conclusion of last season. The addition of Luka Doncic significantly altered Knecht’s role, and to make matters worse for the 24-year-old sniper, he was originally scheduled to be transferred to the Charlotte Hornets before the Lakers chose not to forward with their trade for Mark Williams.

Knecht ended up being a lower-end rotation piece for the Lakers towards the end of last season, and in the playoffs, he did not crack the list of Redick’s trusted players, racking up three DNPs in a five-game series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

For all of Knecht’s usefulness as a floor-spacer, his defense left a lot to be desired, and Redick acted accordingly, benching the rookie when it mattered the most. And it’s unlikely for Knecht to be much better on that end of the floor, which limits his ceiling as a contributor in a Luka Doncic, LeBron James-led team.

Still, Knecht is one of the Lakers’ most important trade chips. They are saving him in a trade for a major piece, although they have been hesitant to give him up willy-nilly. But perhaps they view Dosunmu as a young piece that’s worth getting in exchange for Knecht, who’s much older than his NBA experience would indicate anyway.

Knecht is just one year younger than Dosunmu even though the latter has already played in four NBA seasons. Dosunmu is a jitterbug of a player, an energy guy who can run the offense in a pinch, and he excels in transition on both ends of the floor, using his energy to be a disruptive presence.

Dosunmu’s three-point shot isn’t the best, but during the 2023-24 season, he did shoot 40.3 percent from three on 3.9 attempts per night. Perhaps suiting up alongside quality playmakers such as Doncic, James and Austin Reaves would help bump up Dosunmu’s three-point efficiency.