The Los Angeles Lakers have to let Dalton Knecht go this summer because he is buried on their depth chart. The injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves opened up opportunities for others to step up and take on more responsibility. Still, Knecht has been limited to mop-up duties in all but one game since Feb. 11.
Fans were hyped about the 6’6 wing early in his rookie season. He was an absolute bucket in college, and the Lakers took Knecht with the 17th overall pick. JJ Redick knows how to get a shooter opener, and fans were dreaming of what he could do to maximize his new wing.
Things completely fell apart when Knecht was traded to Charlotte at the 2025 deadline, only for the deal to be rescinded when Mark Williams failed his physical. After returning to the Lakers, the 24-year-old has struggled to make shots. Knecht was already a problematic defender with issues creating shots for others. Without a lights-out jumper, the 6’6 wing can’t get a consistent nightly role on a contender.
It is time for the Lakers to move on from Dalton Knecht
Head coach JJ Redick doesn’t put Knecht in the game anymore. He got six first-half minutes against the Thunder on April 7, but the Lakers were without Luka, AR, LeBron James, and Marcus Smart. That is virtually all of the team’s shot creation, so Redick gave his second-year wing a shot. Knecht finished with five points and four rebounds as the Lakers were destroyed by the defending champs.
The former first-round draft pick is behind Bronny James and Drew Timme in LA’s rotation at this stage. Redick doesn’t trust Knecht in any situation, so it is time to move on. The Lakers love what JJ is doing. If it becomes a choice between the two, Knecht will be gone instantly.
Jovan Buha reported the Lakers will shop Knecht on the trade market in the offseason. He is under contract for $4.2 million next season and has a team option in his contract for the 2027-28 campaign. Teams are always looking for rookie-scale deals to save money, but the Lakers will have to give Knecht away to get him off their roster.
The 6’6 wing is not the typical second-year player. He played five seasons of college basketball between three different schools. Knecht is approaching his 25th birthday. The second-year wing is older than Anthony Edwards, who is finishing his sixth NBA season.
Knecht is entering his prime and can’t get on the floor. Lakers fans were hyped to start his rookie season, but that is gone now. He averaged 4.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game this year, and nearly all of that came in garbage time. Los Angeles can’t have a supposed sharpshooter hitting 31.4 percent from 3-point range on their roster.
The Los Angeles Lakers want to retool around Luka Doncic this offseason. Dalton Knecht’s defensive woes and struggles catching and shooting don’t allow him to fit. The purple and gold should look to trade Knecht and start fresh. It is the 6’6 wing’s only hope of avoiding draft bust status, and the Lakers' lone shot at getting someone ready for a nightly role next season. It is time.