NBA
Lakers’ Dalton Knecht is viewed as a ‘negative asset’ around the NBA
Zach Wolpin is an NBA and NFL expert who's been betting on the league for over three years now. Wolpin has been a fan of the NBA and has been watching for a decade and a half. He covers the latest news and stories surrounding the league daily. His passion in life is watching sports and being able to share that through his sports writing. He has written about the NBA and other sports leagues through various media outlets over the years like Sir Charles In Charge, G-Men HQ, and TAP into South Plainfield. Before he became an NBA News Writer, Wolpin attended Montclair State University where he graduated in 2021. He studied Sports Media and Writing while in school.
All posts by Zach WolpinUpdated4 hours ago on October 08, 2025
As a team, the Los Angeles Lakers are in a unique spot for the 2025-26 season. They’re trying to build for the future around Luka Doncic while cashing in on the time LeBron James has left.
Since the Lakers drafted Dalton Knecht in 2024, the 24-year-old has been on the outside looking in. During the 2024-25 season, Los Angeles traded Knecht to the Horents. However, the trade fell through, and he remained with the Lakers. After a rough start to his 2025-26 preseason, NBA insiders reported that Dalton Knecht is viewed as a “negative asset” around the league.
Is Dalon Knecht being traded by the Lakers inevitable?
Dalton Knecht is now viewed as a negative asset around the league, and the Lakers would most likely need to attach another asset to move him, per @DanWoikeSports
“The Lakers didn’t move Knecht this summer, with anything the team possibly able to get for Knecht not worth giving… pic.twitter.com/uCdm848EZX
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 8, 2025
With the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, the Lakers selected Dalton Knecht out of Tennessee. He spent the first two seasons of his career at a junior college before transferring to Northern Colorado. Knecht spent two seasons with the Bears before he used his final season of eligibility to play for the Volunteers. During his final collegiate season, Knecht averaged 21.7 points per game and shot .397% from beyond the arc.
Dalton Knecht was named a 2023-24 consensus All-American. During his rookie season, Knecht played in 78 games and made 16 starts. At the 2024-25 deadline, the Lakers traded with the Hornets to acquire big man Mark Williams. In that deal, Los Angeles would have given up Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap, and a 2031 first-round pick. However, Mark Williams failed his physical with the Lakers, and the trade was rescinded.
Dalton Knecht is now viewed as a negative asset around the league, and the Lakers would most likely need to attach another asset to move him, per @DanWoikeSports pic.twitter.com/KhjKhJlnqk
— Mave Sports Network (@mave_sports007) October 8, 2025
This offseason, the Hornets traded Mark Williams to the Phoenix Suns. Dalton Knecht is still a member of the Lakers. Recently, NBA insiders reported that Knecht is viewed as a “negative asset” around the league. Los Angeles would likely need to attach another asset in a deal. Unless Dalton Knecht takes a massive step forward in year two, it will be tough for the Lakers to find any real trade value.
As a rookie, Dalton Knecht played in 78 games and made 16 starts. He averaged 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. His three-point accuracy took a slight step back in his first professional season. Knecht shot .376% from beyond the arc. That’s after shooting .397% with the Tennessee Volunteers. Barring a miraculous turn of events, Dalton Knecht will be traded by the Lakers in the future.
