Three former Tennessee players have found new homes at the end of the trade deadline…
…Well, that’s what we had originally said at 3:00 p.m. ET on Thursday afternoon.
As it turns out, there’s been a bit of chaos surrounding Tennessee’s traded players this week. Two of the three players were quickly waived after being traded to their new teams while the third player is heading back to the team that originally traded him.
Former Tennessee guards Jaden Springer, Josh Richardson, and Dalton Knecht were all part of deals throughout the week but none of the three will wind up with the teams they were actually traded to.
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See how all three deals unfolded throughout the week below:
11:15 a.m. ET, Feb. 5
The first big move that included a former Tennessee player was the Celtics trading guard Jaden Springer to the Houston Rockets.
The Celtics’ move to send Springer to the Rockets appeared to be financially motivated more than anything. Boston had added Springer at the trade deadline last season and he was on the roster for the Celtics’ run to the NBA Championship in 2024, but Boston needed to clear up some space moving into the second half of the season.
“I talked to him that night,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said about the trade via SI. “I just explained to him the positive things that he did. Grateful for how he approached our locker room and the daily process of getting better. He had a great mentality and understanding about it.”
Over his career, Springer averages 2.7 points per game in 93 games in total. In 26 games with the Celtics before the trade, Springer was averaging 1.7 points, 0.4 assists, and 0.9 rebounds per game.
Springer was waived by the Rockets after being traded.
The Rockets are waiving Jaden Springer, per a source. Zeller takes up Houston’s 15th roster spot for now. https://t.co/31ynnlWcXl
— Danielle Lerner (@danielle_lerner) February 6, 2025
8:21 p.m. ET, Feb. 5
The second former Tennessee player who was involved with a trade was VFL Josh Richardson on Wednesday night.
The former U.T. guard was traded to the Utah Jazz from the Miami Heat as part of the massive five-team trade that sent superstar Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors. Originally it looked like Richardson was heading to the Pistons but was then flipped to the Jazz due to five teams being involved. On Sunday morning, though, the Jazz went ahead and waived the former Tennessee guard.
Richardson had played just eight games this season before being sent off by the Heat.
Prior to being traded to and waived from the Jazz, Richardson had spent time with Miami, San Antonio, Dallas, Philadephia, Boston, and New Orleans during his NBA career.
According to Forbes NBA contributor Evan Sidery on X, “Richardson will draw interest from contending teams on a veteran’s minimum contract.”
We have waived guard Josh Richardson.
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) February 9, 2025
12:15 a.m. ET, Feb. 6 – 9:04 p.m. ET, Feb. 8
The last and perhaps most important player for Tennessee fans is Dalton Knecht.
The Los Angeles Lakers rookie has had a wild ride the last week.
A few days after a blockbuster trade sent NBA superstar Luka Doncic from the Mavericks to the Lakers, Los Angeles GM Rob Pelinka decided to make another big move for his future. The Lakers sent a package including first-round pick Dalton Knecht to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for big man Mark Williams. That trade took place just past midnight on Wednesday night/Thursday morning, Eastern Time.
Fast forward a few days, though. According to a report from Shams Charania on Saturday night, the Lakers rescinded the Dalton Knecht/Mark Williams trade with the Hornets, keeping the former Vol in Los Angeles. Charania’s reporting states that “Williams’ physical with the Lakers showed multiple issues and the team failed him on the exam.”
So after a quick stretch where Knecht was believed to be teaming up with former Vol Grant Williams in Charlotte, the Tennessee rookie will now head back to Los Angeles to finish the remainder of his freshman season in the NBA.
Dalton Knecht as a Charlotte Hornet:
– Never lost a game
– Never missed a shotthank you Dalton 🫡 pic.twitter.com/CjUym8mPpX
— embrey (@embreyCLT) February 9, 2025
Recap:
- Former UT guard Jaden Springer was traded from the Boston Celtics to the Houston Rockets in what appeared to be a financially motivated move. Houston waived Springer after the trade.
- Former Tennessee guard Josh Richardson wound up going from Miami to Utah in a massive five-team trade but was quickly waived by the Jazz.
- Former Tennessee guard and NBA rookie Dalton Knecht was originally traded to the Charlotte Hornets until the Lakers rescinded the trade to due the Hornets’ player component not meeting expectations through the physical.
