Dalton Knecht continues to look more and more like a failed experiment for the Los Angeles Lakers. Was last season's failed trade a confidence killer? Was it simply a matter of the substance never matching the hype? Either way, the evolving situation is starting to look bleak.
That much was abundantly clear when Dan Woike of The Athletic published his recent write-up on Knecht. It was already known that the league-wide perception of the Lakers sophomore was dipping rapidly. However, the Lakers insider painted a grim picture.
Woike told everyone that scouts and executives were 'almost unanimously' in agreement that the Lakers would not be getting anywhere close to the value of the 17th overall pick they invested into Knecht back in any trade. The worst assessment claimed the Lakers bench player would 'return just a lone second.'
Woike added, "After a rough preseason debut where he shot 1 of 12, scouts left Palm Desert as pessimistic as ever, one even calling Knecht a “negative asset,” meaning the Lakers would need to attach pieces to incentivize a team in a trade."
Lakers' dreams are getting absolutely crushed by Dalton Knecht
Let's keep this straightforward: in a best-case scenario for the Lakers, Knecht would be utilized to help them acquire a real boost to their championship hopes in 2025-26. Woike's assessment of the situation suggests Rob Pelinka and company are still very far away from those ideal circumstances.
Knecht already had a tough time staying on the court last season due to his defense. That problem has not gone away in the lead-up to his second year as a pro.
The biggest issue lies in the fact that other aspects of his game, which were previously considered strengths, are now wavering as well. The shooting slump that notably started during summer league has now extended into the preseason. That is the last thing Knecht needs to develop into a trend if playing time is something he desires.
Ultimately, a change of scenery is probably in everyone's best interests. Knecht needs a team where a spot in the rotation is not something that needs to be worried about. The Lakers need upgrades to some of the weaknesses on their roster, like the perimeter defense or backup center position.
Unfortunately, that amicable split does not happen while the Lakers are scraping the bottom of the barrel for return value. Something will need to budge to get this situation moving forward.