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Is a Dalton Knecht trade coming? First round pick's time with Lakers feels over

The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a roster decision after a preseason that has left one player in a precarious position. With 16 players on the books—one over the NBA’s 15-player limit—the team has now wrapped up its preseason schedule, culminating in a 121-106 loss to the Denver Nuggets.

The focus has turned to Dalton Knecht, a first-round pick (17th overall in 2024) whose role appears to be shrinking amid a revamped roster. While the Lakers initially saw him as a versatile wing with shooting range and size to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis, his production and fit have become questionable.

Knecht’s minutes have been slashed from 19.2 to 10.2 per game this season, and his offensive reliability—once highlighted by a career-high 37-point outburst—has waned, with concerns growing over his defense and consistency. Head coach JJ Redick acknowledged the shift, noting that the team’s needs and dynamics have changed, particularly with the addition of multiple wings this offseason.

Meanwhile, Bronny James, though struggling early in preseason games (averaging just 2.8 points on 26.7% shooting), has shown improvement in practices, leaving Knecht as the clear outlier in the evaluation process.

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