If you’re still a bit surprised over the news that former Tennessee Volsstandout Dalton Knecht has been traded by the LA Lakers to the Charlotte Hornets, you’re not the only one. Overnight, LA indeed sent Knect to Charlotte as part of a blockbuster deal for Mark Williams.

The bad news is that Knecht will no longer play for Los Angeles. If you’re looking for a positive, it’s that he’s going to now share a locker room with another Tennessee fan favorite. That’d of course be Grant Williams, who is still adored all over Knoxville.

Shortly after the Knecht trade was announced, Grant Williams, out for the season with a torn ACL, didn’t hesitate in welcoming his new teammate to Charlotte. To make things even better, he did so in a way that’s going to make Vols fans everywhere smile:

Grant Williams wasted no time welcoming Dalton Knecht to Charlotte

Yup, Rocky Top will always be home. Grant Williams was an absolute superstar for Tennessee and people still follow him closely now that he’s in the NBA. The Hornets just got even more fans on board with Knecht getting ready to move to North Carolina as well.

The Lakers have been working overtime to improve the roster for LeBron James, who doesn’t have too long left suiting up for them. The trade for Luka Doncic opened the door for Knecht to be traded, and with there being a need for help down in the paint for the Lakers with Anthony Davis going to Dallas, this latest move made sense.

Knecht was the No. 17 overall pick for the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft and he quickly made a strong impact for JJ Reddick and his team. Vols supporters across the country loved seeing him play so well, with James giving him plenty of props too. The NBA is a business, however, and now Knecht is getting ready to play for his second franchise.