Sam Howell Breaks Silence on Trade Rumors — “We’re Building Something Special in D.C.”

In a week filled with NFL trade chatter, one name unexpectedly entered the conversation — Sam Howell. Reports suggested that the Seattle Seahawks were exploring a potential move for the young

Washington Commanders quarterback. But before the rumor mill could spin out of control, Howell addressed it directly — with clarity, confidence, and quiet leadership.

“I know what’s being said out there, but my focus is here.

This team believes in me, and I believe in them.
We’re building something special in D.C.”

That statement was more than just damage control — it was a reflection of who Howell is becoming. In a league where narratives shift daily, the 24-year-old signal-caller is proving himself not only as a player but as a leader who stands firm amid uncertainty.

Since the arrival of head coach Dan Quinn, Washington has been focused on rebuilding its identity — one rooted in discipline, culture, and accountability. Howell has become a central figure in that transformation, earning praise from both coaches and teammates for his toughness and growth under pressure.

Insiders close to the Commanders confirm that the organization views Howell as part of its long-term vision. The front office remains committed to giving him the time and support to develop within Quinn’s new system, one designed to foster both stability and explosiveness on offense.

“Sam’s not just learning — he’s leading,” one team source said. “He’s the kind of guy who takes the blame when things go wrong and gives credit when they go right. That’s the mentality we want in this locker room.”

For Commanders fans, that loyalty resonates deeply. After years of transition and change at the quarterback position, Howell’s message feels like a breath of fresh air — a promise that he’s here to help build something lasting.

And in many ways, that’s exactly what this new era in Washington is about: resilience, unity, and belief.

As the Commanders continue to shape their future under Quinn’s leadership, Howell’s presence serves as both a stabilizing force and a reminder that

true rebuilding doesn’t start with trades — it starts with trust.

In Washington, that trust is growing — one snap, one drive, one statement at a time.

Lakers’ JJ Redick Gives Brutally Honest Outlook On Dalton Knecht

Being a teammate of LeBron James has historically come with a lot of baggage, and through his rookie season, Dalton Knecht on the Los Angeles Lakers got the full experience.

Knecht was nearly traded from the Lakers last year, but after a failed physical from Charlotte Hornets‘ big man Mark Williams, Knecht stayed in Los Angeles. Now, with his name circulating in trade rumors and differing reports about his future, the second-year wing returns to the Lakers with an even stronger microscope on both himself and the value he brings to the team.

Speaking to The Athletic on Knecht and his development, Lakers head coach JJ Redick gave an honest outlook on the 24-year-old from Tennessee.

“It’s the other stuff (besides offense) that he’s got

to just do and find that consistency in his defense, on being the low man, or boxing out, or crashing every time or sprinting back and actually talking in transition,” Redick said of Knecht, according to Dan Woike. “When he’s doing those things, he’s an impact player.”

Knecht averaged 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists on 46.1% shooting in 78 games for Los Angeles last season.

Redick And Others Evaluating Knecht

The shooting wing came to

a Lakers team with a ton of attention, and following the Luka Doncic trade for Anthony Davis, that attention has only grown over the past eight months.

Now entering his second season with Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves, questions remain on whether Knecht can be the impactful player many believed he could be when evaluating him as a draft prospect.

An unnamed talent evaluator said to The Athletic, Knecht still “has to figure out who he is at this level,” specifically referring to his defensive effort.

The rookie saw a

drop in playing time as last season went on, capped with just four total minutes of postseason action in the Lakers’ first-round series loss. While that could be due to his slower development on the defense end of the floor, Redick still feels confident in Knecht’s game offensively.

After just a few recent late summer workouts, Redick believes Knecht has the potential to be an impactful scorer at some point in his career.

“We probably met three times over the summer, met again in September, like it’s clear what he’s supposed to do,” Redick said. “Those three practices, our video room and our analytics guys, they tracked every stat in live play. He had an unbelievable three days offensively. I’m very confident (that) when he’s confident, he’s a high-level offensive player in the NBA.”

While his offensive skillset was on display in college, Redick and teammate Rui Hachimura both said Knecht, as well as the team as a whole, has some room for improvement on defense.

“I don’t think this is just a Dalton thing. This is every player,” Redick said.

“You got to find your role of how you can fit on a team,” Hachimura added.

Lakers Potential Lineup For 2025-26

While Knecht has been slowly developing into a more impactful player, the Lakers aren’t necessarily waiting on him for them to make a playoff push.

Over the summer, they added Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia, as well as bringing back some of their other wing depth. Ayton and Smart will

hold big roles defensively for Los Angeles this upcoming season, an issue that was the team’s ultimate downfall in the 2025 playoffs.

Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt are also expected to play a large part for the Lakers this year. Hachimura has found more success offensively, while Vanderbilt has proven to be a more worthy defender

, meaning, depending on the situation and score, Redick will likely put them on the court for their specific skillset.

Gabe Vincent and Smart will likely play in backup guard roles behind Doncic and Reaves. Both have deep experience and are hopeful to be successful in a reserve role behind the two offensive stars.

Lakers Face Brutal Roster Decision In First Full LeBron-Luka Year

With that rotation, even with James likely playing fewer minutes compared to previous years as he continues to age, it leaves little room for Knecht to find minutes.

He started in a total of 18 games last year, but that will prove more difficult as the team has beefed up its supporting cast.

As Woike wrote, Knecht’s future is still in question, but as he remains a valuable trade asset, his development would be beneficial for both himself and the Lakers.

“Knecht can be a valued piece of the team’s rotation, a young player with size, athleticism and sweet shooting touch with the physicality to compete on the defensive end,” he wrote. “That kind of player would be valued in the locker room as much as they would be in hypothetical trade calls.”