On the latest episode of Buha's Block hosted by The Athletic's Los Angeles Lakers reporter Jovan Buha, he discusses the trade value of Dalton Knecht and Adou Thiero, ultimately saying that it's his belief Thiero has more trade value at the moment. This statement reminds us of just how quickly things have changed for Knecht.
No one could have possibly conceived that Knecht's trade value could be this low at this time last year. Less than 12 months ago, he was blossoming into a young star as an older rookie, making every other team in the league feel silly for letting him drop so low in the draft. Now, we're comparing his trade value to a rookie who has played 11 career games and averages less than one point per game.
We can always point to the infamous rescinded trade as the moment that changed everything, but the reality is that Knecht has struggled to carve out a consistent role because his offense has come in streaks. And when the shot is not falling, there has not been enough defensive reliability to keep him on the floor.
This is where the contrast with Thiero becomes clearer. Even in extremely limited minutes, Thiero has flashed traits that teams want to have in playoff settings. His athleticism and defensive versatility give coaches something tangible to work with. From a trade perspective, that archetype is simply easier to plug into another roster.
Dalton Knecht's value has never been lower
It's obvious why a shooter who needs rhythm and touches is harder to sell than a defender who can guard multiple positions and run the floor. That doesn't mean Knecht can't still become a productive NBA player, but it does mean his development timeline doesn't match up well with what the Lakers currently need.
This also speaks to the broader pressure the Lakers are under. With LeBron James nearing the end of his career and the organization pushing all its chips toward contention, patience is not abundant. Young players are judged harshly and quickly. Knecht is learning that lesson in real time as it looks like his days in the Purple and Gold are numbered.
If there's a silver lining for Dalton, it would be that situations change fast in this league. A trade could give Knecht a chance to reset in a system that prioritizes development over urgency. Until then, the comparison to Thiero is less an indictment of Knechtâs ability and more a reflection of what the Lakers value right now.
Still, it's jarring to see how far the conversation has shifted in such a short span. For a player who once looked like a steal of the draft, it's hard to let go of that.