Dalton Knecht has been stuck in limbo with the Los Angeles Lakers ever since Mark Williams failed his physical. Sliding down the depth chart, receiving DNPs, being the constant subject of trade speculation — it hasn't been easy for Knecht.
The Los Angeles Lakers have assigned guard Dalton Knecht and forward Adou Thiero to the South Bay Lakers. I believe its Knecht’s first assignment this year
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) December 15, 2025
Earlier in the week, Knecht's fall from grace got to the point of being assigned to South Bay. That would be the glass-half-empty lens on the situation, at least. The more optimistic viewpoint would be the Lakers sharpshooter getting some much-needed playing time that has eluded him in the NBA.
Los Angeles would not be back on the court until Thursday regardless. Why not let a young player get reps that are not always as easy to find with a title-contending team? That was the right approach for the Lakers as Knecht seized the opportunity in Tuesday's matchup against the San Diego Clippers.
It was a decisive 127-118 victory for South Bay over San Diego. Knecht led the offense for the G League squad, scoring 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting from the field and 6-of-10 from beyond the arc. The sophomore scorer added five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block in the win.
Dalton Knecht proves his ability outweighs his opportunity
With playing time being so sporadic for Knecht at the NBA level, it is easy to think the second-year man is just incapable. To some capacity, there are certainly shortcomings that keep him out of JJ Redick's rotations.
The defensive end is the main issue. On a team that already struggles to guard their opponents, giving Knecht extended opportunities on the court only further exposes that weakness.
As a result, the 24-year-old has struggled to find a firm spot in the rotation. Knecht has collected 5 DNPs thus far in 2025-26. To go with that, there have been five more games in which the former 2024 first-round pick has played less than five minutes on the court.
A team without the defensive deficiencies of the Lakers could be afforded to feature Knecht more than Los Angeles does. If the personnel around him is capable of masking his shortcomings on that end, there is value to be found in his scoring ability.
Something along those lines is what Rob Pelinka will probably be trying to sell teams on before February. It is no secret the Lakers need upgrades before the trade deadline. Similarly, there is very little doubt that Knecht should still be near the top of the list of candidates to be dealt.
The well-timed scoring surge in the G League reminds potential suitors of his ability before this crucial time for Pelinka. Perhaps Knecht can finally get the fresh start he needs in the process.