The Los Angeles Lakers have committed to a sharpshooting wing who will likely take Dalton Knecht's place in the rotation. It's the latest development in a brutal second season for the former Tennessee Volunteers star, who would seem destined to be traded elsewhere.
Unfortunately, the 2026 NBA trade deadline has passed and Knecht remains on the Lakers' roster despite the investment in his development seemingly reaching an all-time low.
Los Angeles made waves on the day of the deadline by trading for sharpshooting wing Luke Kennard. It was a rational move from the perspective that the Lakers rank No. 22 in three-point field goal percentage and need a proven veteran who can consistently excel in a floor-spacing role.
Unfortunately, it was also a contradictory statement about the importance of defense that has called the logic behind Knecht's erratic role into question.
It's easy to point to Knecht's poor shooting in 2025-26 as justification, but the trend of Knecht being benched for defense began in 2024-25. He shot 37.6 percent from beyond the arc as a rookie and even showcased three-level scoring potential, but was ultimately utilized in an inconsistent manner due to concerns over his defense.
By trading for a poor defender in Kennard and failing to move Knecht at the deadline, the Lakers are on the cusp of an all-out catastrophe on the personnel development front.
Lakers' mixed signals endanger Dalton Knecht's development
Knecht played 19.2 minutes per game and averaged 9.1 points and 1.6 three-point field goals made on .461/.376/.762 shooting. Unfortunately, he's down to 11.7 minutes per game in 2025-26 and has been visibly effected by the decrease in playing time, touches, and general consistency in his role.
Knecht is shooting a respectable 44.1 percent from the field, but is down to 31.3 percent from three-point range during his second NBA season.
Perhaps part of what he's encountered is a sophomore slump, but the minutes he's been handed have to be acknowledged. For instance: He scored 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting and played 36 minutes in a win on Oct. 29, yet played 15 minutes the next time out.
Just over a week later, he tallied 14 points in 24 minutes, only to play 11 minutes in the following game. Sadly, this isn't an all that shocking trend.
Lakers need to decide once and for all if Dalton Knecht fits their plans
In 2024-25, Knecht faced a similar fate. It started early, as he produced a nine-game stretch in November during which he produced a 37-point eruption and four outings with at least 20 points. By the second week of December, however, he was playing fewer than 20 minutes per game.
Knecht broke the trend with 13 points in 25 minutes on Christmas and 18 points in 32 minutes the next time out, but within two games, was back below 20 minutes on most nights.
Fast forward to March and Knecht played a pivotal role in helping the Lakers overcome injuries to Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. He averaged 14.4 points on .476/.411/.588 shooting across an 11-game stretch, but a game after posting 17 points in 31 minutes, he was down to seven mintues played—and stayed in that range for the rest of the season.
That beckons the question: What exactly are the Lakers waiting for in terms of either giving him more minutes or trading him elsewhere?
Even if the market wasn't strong for Knecht, a fresh start of some kind is needed. The Lakers need to figure out how one of the few under-25 players on the roster fits in their rotation, and Knecht should be developing within an environment that positions him to succeed.
Unfortunately, the Lakers won't be able to trade Knecht until the offseason. That leaves finding a way to facilitate his development in a greater capacity as the only option until then.