Dalton Knecht
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Lakers' Dalton Knecht during a game against the Atlanta Hawks in January 2025
The Los Angeles Lakers are being pushed towards an uncomfortable realization with Dalton Knecht.
What once appeared to be a calculated first-round swing on shooting upside with the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is now drifting toward a harsher conclusion.
One defined by stalled development and shrinking league-wide value.
At the beginning of January, head coach JJ Redick publicly backed Knecht, urging patience and focusing on process rather than box-score production.
The message was clear: the Lakers were prepared to give the second-year guard a genuine runway to prove he could impact games beyond his shooting.
Since then, the results have done little to validate that approach.
Lakers’ Patience Has Yet to Be Rewarded
Ahead of the Lakers’ first game of 2026 against the Memphis Grizzlies, Redick confirmed that Knecht would be reinserted into the rotation after falling out of it earlier in the season.
“Yeah, Dalton will get a look tonight and he’ll get a look for the foreseeable future,” Redick said, via Lakers Nation. “Play hard. That’s the biggest point of emphasis for him all season. He’s not gonna be judged on whether he makes or misses shots, but that helps.”
“When you go through a stretch where you feel like your team isn’t playing hard, you gotta play the guys that are consistently playing hard. I think he’s had some really good moments already this season and I think for him, probably the next week or so, he’s gonna have consistent playing time and consistent opportunities.”
While an offensive spark would have been welcomed, Redick made it clear the priority was effort, defensive engagement and contributing within the flow of the game. Those opportunities, however, have largely gone unanswered.
Since that point, Knecht has logged just 80 total minutes across six games, an average of 13.3 per night, the second-lowest mark among regular rotation players on a roster already thinned by injuries to Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Gabe Vincent.
Over that stretch, he’s averaging 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds while shooting 28.6% from the field, connecting on just four three-pointers and ranking last on the team in net rating at minus-5.8.
Even in limited opportunities, the same concerns have persisted. At some point, the evaluation inevitably shifts from development to viability.
Trade Fallout and a Shrinking Margin for Error
The situation took on added weight following Knecht’s involvement in a failed trade with the Charlotte Hornets last season. The deal collapsed and so did his confidence and offensive rhythm.
Since returning, Knecht’s role has diminished, and league perception has followed. According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, the 24-year-old “doesn’t have trade value,” with the Lakers’ only truly valuable trade asset being a 2032 first-round pick that is viewed as untouchable.
A first-round pick earning $4 million a season is typically expected to serve as either a contributor or a flexible trade chip. Knecht currently offers neither, placing the Lakers in a difficult position.
The franchise has faced a similar outcome before. Their previous 17th overall pick, Jalen Hood-Schifino in 2023, also struggled to establish himself at the NBA-level despite flashes in the G League.
The Lakers eventually moved on, trading him to the Utah Jazz, and he now continues his career on a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
There’s still one encouraging point for Knecht. In his lone G League appearance this season with South Bay, he erupted for 30 points against the San Diego Clippers, shooting 10-of-17 from the field and knocking down six three-pointers while contributing across the board.
The contrast between that performance and his NBA struggles suggests additional developmental reps may be necessary, even if the Lakers’ timeline doesn’t readily accommodate them.
That leaves the organization facing a stark choice if a trade suitor isn’t found. To continue searching for minutes that may not exist, or lean into development away from the NBA spotlight.
The Lakers don’t need to make a final decision immediately. But the longer this trajectory continues, the clearer the outcome becomes.
Knecht is no longer just fighting for a role, he’s fighting to remain part of the Lakers’ future, and perhaps his NBA future altogether.