The Los Angeles Lakers didn’t play Dalton Knecht a single minute in a stunning loss to the rebuilding Mavericks on Sunday night, despite not having Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, or Marcus Smart. It has been a nightmare turn for the purple and gold. Doncic and Reaves will remain sidelined into the first round of the playoffs, so LA needs all hands on deck. Still, head coach JJ Redick was giving minutes to Kobe Bufkin, Bronny James, and Nick Smith Jr. over Knecht.
It has been a disastrous second season for the Lakers' 2024 first-round draft pick. Things turned south when LA traded him to Charlotte and had to rescind the deal after Mark Williams failed his physical. The Lakers were right to nix the trade, but Knecht lost confidence. He has struggled to make shots ever since and has been limited to garbage time all season.
The Lakers have no faith in Knecht. They were playing two-way players over him on Sunday night. Los Angeles was down three players, and 11 others got minutes. Knecht still couldn’t crack the rotation. Jovan Buha reported the Lakers will shop him this summer, and it is clearly over for the 6’6 wing in LA.
Dalton Knecht has already played his last game with the Lakers
Los Angeles has four games left in the regular season plus the playoffs. The season isn’t over, but Knecht couldn’t get minutes against the rebuilding Mavericks. Coach Redick likes to run a nine-man rotation, but he expanded to 11 in Dallas. He was looking for a spark with his two leading scorers out. Even with all that, Redick never turned to Knecht.
The 24-year-old is averaging 4.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in 10.3 minutes per game this season. He has played in 50 contests, but is shooting just 30.4 percent on his 3-point attempts. For a player who relies on his offense, Knecht has to make shots. His jumper abandoning him has forced Redick and the Lakers to lose all faith in the second-year wing.
Los Angeles started the game with LeBron James at point guard. That means Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia, Bronny James, Kobe Bufkin, and Nick Smith Jr. are all ahead of Knecht in the pecking order. Marcus Smart should return at some point to push the 2024 first-round pick further down. There is no path to Knecht getting on the floor right now.
Fans couldn't agree more after Sunday's loss.
Luka, AR, and Smart all being out and Dalton Knecht still can’t sniff the rotation again is really the final nail in the coffin for his time as a Laker
— JSM (@JSMonYT) April 6, 2026
Dalton Knecht not getting any minutes on the current version of the Lakers tells me his career is #over
— Grant (@6rants_) April 6, 2026
The two sides must part ways in the offseason. The Hornets wanted Knecht at the 2025 trade deadline, but his value has disappeared. Los Angeles owes him $4.2 million next season and will likely have to use Knecht as a throw-in to get him off their roster. They can’t expect any value in return. It should all be about making a change and finding someone coach Redick trusts to put around Luka Doncic.
Rob Pelinka’s draft track record took another hit on Sunday night. Knecht officially went to bust status after he couldn’t get a single minute with LA’s top two scorers sidelined. The Lakers must do better at selecting and developing talent if they want to be an annual title contender.
Dalton Knecht has likely already played his final game with the Los Angeles Lakers after not getting on the floor on Sunday night. The roster was banged up, but coach Redick still couldn’t find time for DK. Playing three young guards over him means Knecht is glued to the bench and will likely be traded this summer.
Consider this another busted draft pick by Pelinka and the Lakers. Sadly, that is becoming a trend, and the Lakers must put a stop to it ASAP.