Dalton Knecht’s stock is already taking a hit. According to Los Angeles Times reporter Dan Woike, rival scouts around the league have begun labeling the Lakers guard as a “negative asset” after a rough preseason debut, suggesting Los Angeles would likely have to attach another asset to move him in any potential trade.
“The Lakers didn’t move Knecht this summer, with anything the team possibly able to get for Knecht not worth giving up on the potential that’s still there,” wrote Woike. “But after a rough preseason debut where he shot 1 of 12, scouts left Palm Desert as pessimistic as ever, one even calling Knecht a ‘negative asset,’ meaning the Lakers would need to attach pieces to incentivize a team in a trade.”
The Lakers began preseason against the Suns, which ended in a rough 21-point loss. Knecht struggled in the game, dropping just six points on 2-10 shooting. Against the Warriors on Sunday, Knecht scored 12 points on 3-11 shooting as the Lakers lost by eight. For a player who showed so much promise last season, these early struggles are not a great sign from Dalton and suggest he may be an early candidate to be traded before February’s deadline.
Since it’s still very early, Knecht still has plenty of time to find his place on the Lakers but it’s hard to deny where things stand after the botched trade deal last season. Shortly after acquiring Luka Doncic, the Lakers set out to add a nice young center and they had even lined up a deal for Hornets big man Mark Williams.
Knecht was supposed to go to Charlotte as part of that trade, but the Lakers called it off at the last minute, leading to an awkward reunion between the parties. For Dalton, it was like a sudden whiplash to be back with the team that had just traded him, but he had no choice but to press forward and do the best he could.
Despite his best efforts, things never returned to normal for Dalton, and he felt like an outsider on his own team. His game declined, his role dipped, and he gradually faded from importance until this preseason. Now, JJ Redick is hoping Knecht’s newfound experience will help him reach a higher level, but it’s clear he still has a long way to go.
The bad news for the Lakers is that even if they wanted to trade Knecht, his value has never been lower and they won’t get any favorable offers. In fact, they’d have to attach a pick just to get him off the books and it means he’s essentially un-tradable right now.
With a few weeks to go before the new season, the Lakers can use this time to prep their young players and ensure they are properly equipped to that that next step in their development. For Dalton, that means giving him the time to shine and either establish his future in Los Angeles or send his contract somewhere else.
It’s far too early to write Dalton Knecht off completely, but the signs aren’t promising so far. If he wants to change the narrative, he’ll need to prove he belongs in the Lakers’ rotation and show the same confidence that made him a breakout prospect in college. His talent isn’t in question, but his consistency is, and that’s what will determine whether he becomes part of the Lakers’ future or another name lost to the trade block.
