The Los Angeles Lakers want Dalton Knecht to have value, but they keep diminishing it. The former first-round draft pick was a DNP-CD in LeBron James’ return to the floor. He isn’t a teenage prospect. The 24-year-old must play to have value to the Lakers or via trade. It isn’t happening, and his 3-point shooting struggles make things even more difficult.
Do not be surprised to see LA explore [the trade market for Knecht](https://lakeshowlife.com/lakers-dalton-knecht-is-destined-to-be-traded-and-it-isnt-entirely-his-fault-doncic-reaves) before the deadline. They agreed to deal him to Charlotte last season, but Mark Williams failed his physical to nix the trade. The Lakers signed Jake LaRavia in the offseason, and he [has already replaced Knecht](https://lakeshowlife.com/jake-laravia-quietly-forcing-dalton-knecht-right-off-lakers) in head coach JJ Redick’s pecking order.
Los Angeles is all-in on title contention with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in their prime. They want to upgrade their roster before the trade deadline, but are light on assets. Knecht could be a crucial piece of a deal if handled properly. Sadly, the Lakers are not doing that.
Dalton Knecht is out of the rotation and lacks an NBA skill
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The 6’6 wing had defensive questions coming out of college, and those have only gotten louder. The Lakers' defensive rating is 118.9 with Knecht on the floor. They are 5.3 points per 100 possessions better when he heads to the bench.
He was supposed to make up for it by being an offensive weapon capable of getting buckets and spacing the floor. Some were even calling him the steal of the draft when he fell to 17th overall. Sadly, Lakers fans have not seen that three-level scorer in his first two NBA seasons.
Knecht’s 3-point shooting is a worry. He couldn’t buy a jumper in summer league and has begun this season making just 32.6 percent of his first 46 3-point attempts. Injuries have opened minutes, but bad defense and poor shooting make Knecht rate as a replacement-level player by VORP.
The Lakers need to put Knecht in positions to succeed. They should be trying to create open looks for him to boost his confidence. LA needs him to play a key role in the franchise taking the next step. It could be as a productive role player or trade piece. Right now, it is difficult to see either working out, and that is a problem for the Lakers.
The purple and gold must prioritize developing young talent in the second apron era. It is part of the reason why they fired their scouting staff. The Lakers have had some big draft misses in recent years, and Knecht is heading in that direction. Fans don’t want it to be true, but the coaching staff doesn’t even want to play him.
The Los Angeles Lakers must figure out how Dalton Knecht fits into their plans. If he is just a trade piece, the Lakers need to move on ASAP because the 24-year-old is losing value by the day. Finding a new home may be the best option for both parties at this stage. It will save the Lakers from the embarrassment of how they are handling Knecht if nothing else.