Just months ago, Dalton Knecht was viewed as one of the more intriguing young assets on the Los Angeles Lakers‘ roster. A 24-year-old rookie with a team-friendly contract, solid shooting numbers, and flashes of scoring versatility, Knecht held value as a potential sweetener in trade packages.
But following a quiet postseason and a disappointing Summer League showing, that value has taken a hit and according to Lakers’ insider Jovan Buha, he may no longer even be worth a first-round pick.
“Summer League has not helped Knecht’s stock, and I don’t think at this point he is valued as a first-round pick, in terms of an asset valuation.:
“That was what I heard in Vegas from talking to multiple people, non-Lakers people, just gauging what would you give for Dalton Knecht? Or if the Lakers are putting Dalton Knecht in a trade, what is he worth? And the feedback I got was, no longer worth a first-round valuation.”
That February moment is key. The Lakers had included Knecht in a proposed trade to the Charlotte Hornets that would have brought in young center Mark Williams. Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap, and a 2031 first-rounder were all set to go until Williams failed his physical, and the trade collapsed.
Since then, Knecht’s minutes dwindled down the stretch, he was a non-factor in the playoffs, and he entered the offseason in limbo.
In three Las Vegas Summer League games, Knecht has averaged just 10.3 points in 28.4 minutes, along with 4.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists. While not terrible, those numbers are underwhelming for a second-year player, especially one expected to dominate Summer League competition.
He has shown moments of scoring polish, but defensively, he remains a liability and hasn’t consistently separated himself as a must-keep prospect.
As a rookie, Knecht played in 78 games, averaging 9.1 points on 46.1% shooting and a solid 37.6% from three. Those are efficient numbers for a rookie wing, but the lack of playmaking, defense, and physicality left him buried behind veterans in the postseason rotation.
The Lakers, meanwhile, have reshaped their roster with savvy additions. Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, and DeAndre Ayton joined the team this summer, giving L.A. an infusion of defensive toughness, rebounding, and wing depth. All three are on short-term, team-friendly contracts.
Though the Lakers lost Dorian Finney-Smith to the Rockets, they managed to convert that cap slot into three quality rotation players, all younger than DFS, and at less long-term financial risk.
Now, with Marcus Smart agreeing to a two-year, $11 million deal, the Lakers needed to free up space. So Shake Milton and Jordan Goodwin have been waived. But the question remains whether Knecht, once a promising trade chip, can bring back enough value to help in that cap-shedding effort.
He still has supporters around the league. His age, shooting touch, and contract make him appealing to teams looking to develop depth. But the consensus now appears to be that he’s not enough of a needle-mover to warrant a first-round pick, at least not in return. At best, he could be a second-round sweetener or part of a salary-matching package in a larger trade.
Knecht’s future with the Lakers remains unclear. With Jake LaRavia now in the fold and LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Rui Hachimura soaking up most of the wing minutes, Knecht may find himself deeper on the bench than ever. And while he’s still young enough to break out, his window to impress might be closing fast.
Whether he gets another shot in Los Angeles or becomes a low-cost flyer for a rebuilding team, one thing is clear: his value is no longer what it once was.
