Lakers guard Dalton Knecht
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Lakers' Dalton Knecht during a game against the Houston Rockets in March 2026
The Los Angeles Lakers have dealt with constant disruption to their rotation this season, with injuries repeatedly forcing changes to lineups and roles.
Amid that instability, second-year guard Dalton Knecht has struggled to establish himself, finding his role increasingly reduced despite remaining available.
Selected 17th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, Knecht entered the league with the expectation that his perimeter shooting would translate quickly at the NBA level.
The rescinded trade to the Charlotte Hornets last season has appeared to knock his confidence, and he has yet to rediscover consistent offensive rhythm since.
Lakers Guard Slips out of Rotation Amid Difficult Second Season
Through 48 games this season, Knecht is averaging 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per contest, shooting 44.8% from the field and 30.7% from three-point range.
While he saw sporadic opportunities earlier in the season, his role has all but disappeared in recent weeks.
Across seven appearances in February, Knecht logged just 36 total minutes, and through three games in March, he has played only 10 minutes despite being fully healthy.
His place in the rotation has diminished significantly, leaving his long-term future with the franchise increasingly uncertain.
Although no deal materialized at the February trade deadline, Behind The Buck Pass’ William Moxon believes an offseason move could still emerge, with the Milwaukee Bucks identified as a potential landing spot.
“While nothing is set in stone, [his G League assignments] could open the door for the Milwaukee Bucks to trade for him on the cheap and turn him into their next reclamation project, similar to Ousmane Dieng,” Moxon wrote.
“The bright lights of LA can play havoc with a player, with Knecht’s early performances almost being his downfall. Fans then began to really put pressure on him as a rookie to be this key rotation piece right away.”
G League Flashes Highlight Untapped Potential
Knecht has received multiple G League assignments to the South Bay Lakers in recent months, offering glimpses of the talent that made him a first-round selection.
Moxon suggests those assignments could lower his perceived value, creating an opportunity for another team to acquire him at a reduced cost and invest in his development.
“Milwaukee has struggled with its drafting, but has been successful in picking up forgotten young players on the cheap,” Moxon added. “Dieng has been very impressive since arriving. Kevin Porter Jr. was a steal of a trade, and then Ryan Rollins and AJ Green are players they picked up on two-way deals and have grown into key rotation pieces. Knecht could follow in those footsteps.”
The Bucks currently rank second in the NBA in three-point percentage at 38.8%, trailing only the Denver Nuggets, while also sitting fifth in made threes per game (14.8).
Given their reliance on perimeter shooting, and the uncertainty surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo’s long-term future, a low-risk move for a shooter like Knecht could make sense within a potential roster reset.
Knecht has already shown what he is capable of in the G League with South Bay, including a 30-point outing in his debut assignment back in December.
In that performance, he added five rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block, shooting 10-of-17 from the field and 6-of-10 from beyond the arc.
In the right environment, with consistent minutes and reduced pressure, Knecht may still rediscover the form that once made him a first-round pick.