As a team, the Los Angeles Lakers are in a unique position heading into the 2025-26 season. They’re trying to build a future around Luka Doncic while cashing in on LeBron James’ time away.
Since the Lakers drafted Dalton Kneccht in 2024, the 24-year-old has been looking for opportunities off the court. In the 2024-25 season, Los Angeles traded Knecht to the Hollenz. However, the trade failed and he stayed with the Lakers. After a rough start to the 2025-26 preseason, NBA insiders say Dalton Knecht is considered a “negative asset” to the league.
Is Daron Knect’s trade to the Lakers inevitable?
Dalton Knecht is now considered a negative asset in the league, and the Lakers will likely need to attach another asset to trade him. @danwalker体育
“The Lakers didn’t trade Knecht this summer, and anything the team might get for Knecht wouldn’t be worth it… pic.twitter.com/uCdm848EZX
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 8, 2025
In the 2024 NBA Draft, the Lakers selected Dalton Knect from Tennessee with the 17th overall pick in the first round. 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 spending his final season playing for the Volunteers. In his final season in college, Knecht averaged 21.7 points per game and shot 0.397% from beyond the arc.
Dalton Knecht was named a unanimous All-American in 2023-24. In his rookie season, Knecht played in 78 games, including 16 starts. At the deadline of the 2024-25 season, the Lakers traded with the Hornets to acquire big man Mark Williams. In that deal, Los Angeles would give 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 However, Mark Williams failed his physical with the Lakers and the deal was revoked.
Dalton Knecht is now considered a negative asset in the league, and the Lakers will likely need to attach another asset to trade him. @danwalker体育 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 Knect is considered a “negative asset” by the league. Los Angeles may need to attach another asset to the deal. Unless Dalton Knicht takes a big step forward in Year 2, the Lakers will be hard-pressed to find any real trade value.
As a rookie, Dalton Knicht played in 78 games, including 16 starts. He averaged 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. In his first pro season, his three-point shooting percentage dropped slightly. Knecter shot 0.376% from beyond the arc. This comes after the Tennessee Volunteers shot .397% from the field. Barring a miraculous turnaround, Dalton Knecht will be traded by the Lakers in the future.
