It was not long ago that Dalton Knecht was considered the crown jewel of the Los Angeles Lakers’ young core. Things can change fast in the NBA, and this summer, they have.
After an up-and-down summer league, the hype around Knecht has cooled. Meanwhile, Bronny James has steadily gained ground, and according to Sam Vecenie of The Game Theory Podcast, he might have passed Knecht altogether.
“I kind of just buy the athleticism and where he [Bronny] is in his developmental curve a little bit more,” Vecenie said regarding who he would rather bet on long-term. That is a big statement. Especially when you consider that Knecht played in 78 games last season and was a regular part of the rotation.
One Summer League, two very different stories
Bronny barely saw the floor in comparison. Summer league gave both players a clean slate, and Bronny made the most of it. Over the course of his games, James averaged 14.2 points, 3.8 assists, and 2.8 boards, all while looking more confident and comfortable than ever.
Knecht, on the other hand, struggled. While he had some promising moments last season, shooting over 37.6 percent from deep, his defensive lapses remain a concern, as they have not gone away.
“Dalton just really doesn’t think the game defensively in the way he has to,” Vecenie stated.
Knecht’s name is stuck in trade limbo
That is a big reason why Knecht’s name keeps showing up in trade rumors. He was already nearly moved in a deal with Charlotte for Mark Williams, a trade that was eventually rescinded.
Now the rumors have been circling again. This time, it looks like no team wants to pick up a call that involves his name.
The painful truth for the Lakers is this: the young player the teams may want in a trade is not Knecht anymore; in fact, it is Bronny. Even though that is the case, trading Bronny is likely off the table, for obvious reasons.
His development, his upside, and yes, the fact that his father is still (kind of) the face of the franchise, all matter.
Lakers front office faces a difficult reality
That leaves the front office in a tricky spot. Knecht’s value has dipped, and the dream of flipping him in a bigger deal is starting to fade.
For now, he is likely staying put and maybe sliding down the depth chart. None of this was supposed to happen this quickly, but it has. Bronny is rising. The more he shines, the more Knecht fades into the background.