The Los Angeles Lakers have been anticipated to make use of Dalton Knecht as their negotiating chip this season to bolster their roster, however they defended his value and mistreated him.
Earlier than the commerce deadline final season, the Los Angeles Lakers took Draft Capital and Rookie Dalton Knet to the Charlotte Hornets, with Mark Williams as middle. Nevertheless, after Williams bodily failed, commerce rapidly reversed.
The tried deal despatched a transparent message to the league. Knecht was a consumable and the Lakers have been keen to subdue him in lieu of further draft picks.
After that nasty second, the Lakers have been anticipated to say goodbye to Knecht quickly, however he did little to extend his commerce worth.
Knecht was drafted as among the best shooters within the 2024 class, and rapidly proved that he had what he wanted to pour an NBA bucket.
Nevertheless, Luka Doncic and Lebron James as LA centerpieces, the Lakers had no motivation to develop the 23-year-old rookie.
In his first season, Knecht solidified himself as a strong younger participant, and he was anticipated to dominate this offseason within the Las Vegas Summer time League. As an alternative, he took a transparent step, tanking each worth he had.
“The Vegas chatter about Dalton Knecht was not good,” mentioned Lakers insider Jovan Buha. “The Summer time League hasn’t helped Knecht’s inventory. At this level, he would not suppose he is been valued as a primary spherical decide from an asset valuation perspective.”
In Williams’ commerce, Knecht was hanging as an appetizing younger participant who may drive the rebuild of the Hornets, however after showing six instances this summer time, the Lakers should commerce him for a further decide within the potential for a midseason commerce.
“If the Lakers put Dalton Knecht within the commerce, what’s he value, and the suggestions I acquired, shouldn’t be value one other score.”
The Lakers can commerce picks in 2026, 2028 and 2030, with the 2031 and 2032 picks being the one two that may be traded fully.
Summer time League is meant to exhibit that unproven gamers can deal with NBA roles. Final season, Knecht was capable of present it as a multi-level scorer. Briefly, there was no cause for the Lakers to play him this summer time.
Definitely, in his rookie season he performed a smaller position than would have been anticipated at first, however a lot of it was because of the troublesome setting created by failing commerce.
| span | ppg | RPG | APG | FG% | 3pt% |
| 2024-25 Common Season | 9.1 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 46.1% | 37.6% |
| 2025 Summer time League | 11.7 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 32.1% | 23.7% |
If the Lakers had merely sat kneaded this summer time, his value wouldn’t have modified in any respect. Definitely, it could have gone up, however contemplating that Los Angeles had no function to construct round him, it wasn’t definitely worth the threat.
The Lakers head for the following season.
