Los Angeles Lakers wing Dalton Knecht was once considered a promising trade chip—but that may no longer be the case.
The Lakers are reportedly open to pursuing another deal this offseason, even after acquiring Marcus Smart, Deandre Ayton, and Jake LaRavia. But one player whose trade stock is rapidly dropping is Knecht, following a lackluster performance at the 2025 NBA Summer League.
According to Lakers insider Jovan Buha on his podcast, “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.”
Buha added that multiple league sources in Las Vegas now view Knecht as falling out of that tier completely.
Knecht, 24, had previously been part of a trade proposal in February that would have sent him, Cam Reddish, a 2030 pick swap, and a 2031 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams. However, the deal collapsed after Williams failed his physical.
Since then, Knecht’s role with the Lakers has diminished. He barely played in the playoffs, and his three-game Summer League stint left much to be desired. Knecht averaged 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 28.4 minutes per game—numbers that are solid but far from impactful for a second-year player with high expectations.
As a rookie, Knecht appeared in 78 games and posted 9.1 points per game while shooting a respectable 46.1% from the field and 37.6% from three-point range. Despite his efficiency, he has yet to show the leap that typically increases a player’s value heading into Year 2.
The Lakers, who are reportedly eyeing veterans like Jrue Holiday, could face complications using Knecht in a blockbuster deal. They still have over $40.7 million in expiring contracts to work with—thanks to players like Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and Maxi Kleber—but Knecht’s declining value limits L.A.’s leverage.
With training camp on the horizon, the Lakers may need Knecht to show major improvement—or pivot to other assets—if they want to pull off another major move this offseason.