Insider offers trade theory on why Dalton Knecht is unplayable with Lakers
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Insider offers trade theory on why Dalton Knecht is unplayable with Lakers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Dalton Knecht’s playing time diminished in Year 2 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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Of course, like his rookie season with the high-profile Western Conference franchise, Knecht was solid in spurts but unplayable for much of the year. On Monday, Lakers insider Jovan Buha provided the organization’s fan base with an intriguing trade theory on why Dalton Knecht has yet to earn JJ Redick’s trust in Los Angeles.
“The short of it, for me, it’s a couple of things,” Buha said. “If you just look at Dalton’s numbers this season compared to last season and across the board, you’ll see his field goal percentage declined, his three-point shooting declined, and his free throw percentage declined. You’ll also see that per 36 or per 100 possessions, he declined as a rebounder and passer.”
“You look at his advanced metrics, they all decreased across the board, and his turnover rate nearly doubled. I think with Dalton, he hasn’t been the same player since the trade got rescinded. I think he had already started to decline a bit pre-trade. He had a few big performances post-trade when they were shorthanded. I think this year he had a couple of decent games, although most of them were in garbage time and shorthanded situations.”
“Dalton is a below-average processor on both sides of the ball. His defense, the way that he reads the floor, his decision-making, there are some limitations there. Offensively, there are several viral clips of him forgetting plays and JJ chewing him out. You cannot forget plays at the NBA level, that is inexcusable as a young guy, especially as an older young guy.”
For clarity, Buha is referring to the failed 2024-25 midseason deal that would have sent Knecht, Cam Reddish, a future first-round pick, and a pick swap to the Hornets for Mark Williams. A concerning physical from Williams ultimately caused the trade to fall through, and, in Buha’s mind, it’s clear Knecht hasn’t been the same since, from a psychological standpoint.
It isn’t preposterous to suggest that landing on the trade block months into Year 1 in the big leagues can take a mental toll on a player looking to make a lasting impression from the get-go. Knecht likely felt that the Lakers no longer had faith in his long-term future with the organization, resulting in him losing most of the confidence he had exuded before the trade announcement.
Knecht contributed 4.2 points per contest while connecting on 45.5% from the field and 34.2% from three-point land this past season, a far cry from the 9.1 points and 46.1%/37.6% shooting splits he finished with as a rookie with the Lakers.
Needless to say, being included in an unsuccessful trade with the Hornets as a rookie was the worst thing that could have happened for Knecht to start his NBA career.
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