Lakers looking to trade Dalton Knecht as roster deadline looms

Dalton Knecht’s opportunity to get his career going may have to come somewhere other than Los Angeles.

As Hoops Wire reported Wednesday, league sources say the Lakers are looking to move the third-year wing. The Mavericks and Celtics may be among the interested teams.

Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints has since reported that L.A. is actively exploring Knecht trade discussions as teams prepare to finalize their regular-season rosters Monday.

The question is whether the Lakers can find a deal before having to consider other options.

The Athletic’s Dan Woike addressed that during a question-and-answer session on the Lakers’ subreddit, saying the team would exhaust trade possibilities before considering a waiver, according to BasketNews.

“Waiving is the last resort and they’ll exhaust trade options first,” Woike wrote.

Woike also offered an assessment of why Knecht has struggled to establish himself.

“The biggest issue with Dalton Knecht hasn’t been shooting and hasn’t been defensive effort. It’s been processing,” he wrote.

That’s a difficult hurdle for a player trying to earn consistent minutes on a team with little patience for mistakes. Making shots helps, but understanding where to be and how quickly to react can determine whether a young player stays on the floor.

Knecht, 25, averaged 9.1 points in 19.2 minutes as a rookie after being selected 17th overall in 2024. Last season, those numbers fell to 4.2 points and 10.2 minutes in 54 appearances.

There’s also the awkward history. Los Angeles agreed to send him to Charlotte in the Mark Williams trade in February 2025, only for the deal to be rescinded over concerns about Williams’ health.

Knecht returned, but his role never developed the way either side hoped.

The Lakers are now trying to find another landing spot. For a team willing to offer minutes and some patience, a former first-round pick with shooting ability could still be worth a look.