Lakers’ Handling of Dalton Knecht Raises Serious Concerns as Forward Falls Out of Rotation

The Los Angeles Lakers’ approach to Dalton Knecht’s development is coming under increasing scrutiny, as the 24-year-old forward once again found himself out of the rotation during LeBron James’ high-profile return. For a player expected to contribute immediately rather than grow as a long-term project, the lack of opportunity is causing his value to slide in real time.

Knecht — a former first-round selection and one of the most mature rookies from his class — was drafted with the expectation that he could bolster shooting depth and provide perimeter scoring. Instead, the Lakers risk diminishing both his on-court growth and his potential worth as a trade asset.

L.A. may explore moving him

It is no secret that the franchise is aggressively pursuing a championship window built around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, and improving the roster before the trade deadline is a priority. Knecht could become a valuable piece in a deal — but only if teams have recent, meaningful game film to evaluate.

Even last season, Los Angeles reportedly agreed to trade Knecht to the Charlotte Hornets before the move collapsed due to Mark Williams’ failed physical. Since then, offseason signee Jake LaRavia has emerged as head coach JJ Redick’s preferred rotation wing, pushing Knecht further down the depth chart.

Defensive struggles and cold shooting have stalled momentum

The 6’6 swingman entered the league with known defensive question marks, and those concerns have not eased. The Lakers have posted a 118.9 defensive rating with Knecht on the floor, and performance metrics show the team performing 5.3 points per 100 possessions better when he is off the court.

Offensively, Knecht needed his scoring to offset those issues — but his perimeter shooting has stumbled out of the gate. After a difficult Summer League stretch, he has opened the season shooting just 32.6% from beyond the arc on his first 46 attempts, limiting his ability to stay on the court.

Lakers need to support his development — or move quickly

The club has publicly committed to maximizing young talent as part of the modern second-apron era, even making significant scouting changes after a recent run of draft disappointments. Knecht was selected with the hope of bucking that pattern — yet so far, the staff has struggled to find a stable role or development plan for him.

Given the Lakers’ current needs, Knecht still has two potential outcomes:

1. Become a productive rotation scorer who spaces the floor, allowing the coaching staff to trust him during competitive minutes; or
2. Serve as a meaningful trade asset in a package designed to bring back a veteran contributor.

At the moment, neither scenario appears to be materializing. With each game he sits, his value shrinks — both leaguewide and within the Lakers’ internal hierarchy.

If Los Angeles ultimately views Knecht primarily as a trade chip, the franchise may need to act quickly. A change of scenery could benefit both sides — increasing Knecht’s opportunity to earn real minutes and preventing the Lakers from losing value on another recent draft investment.