{"id":142463,"date":"2026-01-21T04:03:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T04:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=142463"},"modified":"2026-01-21T04:03:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T04:03:11","slug":"%f0%9f%9a%a8-lakers-trade-alert-after-a-rough-run-dalton-knecht-might-be-part-of-the-shake-up-in-a-deal-fans-are-calling-a-win-for-everyone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=142463","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8 LAKERS TRADE ALERT! After a rough run, Dalton Knecht might be part of the shake-up in a deal fans are calling a win for everyone."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/library.sportingnews.com\/styles\/crop_style_16_9_desktop_webp\/s3\/2025-09\/USATSI_25728622.jpg.webp?itok=5QtEL4cA\" alt=\"Lakers predicted to end failed Dalton Knecht experiment via 'win-win' trade image\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\">\n<div class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"cf897383-8a46-4193-933c-f0f2966bf1c6\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-2\">\n<div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\">\n<div class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full break-words light markdown-new-styling\">\n<h2 data-start=\"214\" data-end=\"305\">Dalton Knecht\u2019s Lakers Tenure Has Hit a Crossroads \u2014 and a Trade May Be the Best Outcome<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"307\" data-end=\"387\">Dalton Knecht\u2019s time with the Los Angeles Lakers has not gone according to plan.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"389\" data-end=\"680\">Selected with the <strong data-start=\"407\" data-end=\"452\">No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft<\/strong>, the former Tennessee standout was widely viewed as one of the steals of the class. His shooting pedigree and college production suggested he could make an immediate impact for a team looking to surround its stars with spacing.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"682\" data-end=\"746\">Fast forward to early 2026, and that optimism has largely faded.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"748\" data-end=\"915\">Knecht is no longer a consistent part of <strong data-start=\"789\" data-end=\"813\">JJ Redick\u2019s rotation<\/strong>, and his diminishing role has sparked legitimate questions about his long-term future in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"917\" data-end=\"1108\">According to <em data-start=\"930\" data-end=\"946\">Lake Show Life<\/em> contributor <strong data-start=\"959\" data-end=\"983\">Svyatoslav Rovenchuk<\/strong>, the Lakers should seriously consider ending the experiment sooner rather than later \u2014 via a trade that benefits both sides.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"1110\" data-end=\"1410\">\n<p data-start=\"1112\" data-end=\"1251\"><em>\u201cThere is an inescapable feeling that Knecht will not have the best version of what his career could be in Los Angeles,\u201d Rovenchuk wrote.<\/em><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1258\" data-end=\"1410\"><em>\u201cThe Lakers do not have the personnel to cover up his shortcomings. Meanwhile, Knecht is not perfectly cast as an off-ball shooter for the team either.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr data-start=\"1412\" data-end=\"1415\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"1417\" data-end=\"1445\">Why the Fit Hasn\u2019t Worked<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_fill,w_1200,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/voltaxMediaLibrary\/mmsport\/all_lakers\/01jm0004pcpd25nmzqrh.jpg\" alt=\"Dalton Knecht Finally Breaks Silence Regarding Lakers Rescinded Trade\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1447\" data-end=\"1599\">Knecht entered the 2025\u201326 season with momentum after a promising rookie year, but Year 2 has exposed several flaws that have limited his effectiveness:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1601\" data-end=\"1706\">\n<li data-start=\"1601\" data-end=\"1634\">\n<p data-start=\"1603\" data-end=\"1634\"><strong data-start=\"1603\" data-end=\"1634\">Questionable shot selection<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1635\" data-end=\"1666\">\n<p data-start=\"1637\" data-end=\"1666\"><strong data-start=\"1637\" data-end=\"1666\">Limited off-ball movement<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1667\" data-end=\"1706\">\n<p data-start=\"1669\" data-end=\"1706\"><strong data-start=\"1669\" data-end=\"1706\">Struggles as a perimeter defender<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"1708\" data-end=\"1959\">For a team built around stars who require reliable two-way contributors, those weaknesses have been magnified. Redick\u2019s system demands discipline, defensive awareness, and movement without the ball \u2014 areas where Knecht has yet to consistently deliver.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1961\" data-end=\"2117\">As Rovenchuk notes, the Lakers simply aren\u2019t equipped to mask those deficiencies, nor is Knecht being used in a role that maximizes his offensive strengths.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"2119\" data-end=\"2122\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"2124\" data-end=\"2166\">A Trade Could Benefit Everyone Involved<\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"2168\" data-end=\"2235\">At this stage, moving on from Knecht could serve both parties well.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2237\" data-end=\"2312\">For the Lakers, dealing the former first-round pick could open the door to:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2313\" data-end=\"2442\">\n<li data-start=\"2313\" data-end=\"2356\">\n<p data-start=\"2315\" data-end=\"2356\">A <strong data-start=\"2317\" data-end=\"2356\">more dependable two-way role player<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2357\" data-end=\"2399\">\n<p data-start=\"2359\" data-end=\"2399\">Better lineup balance around their stars<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"2400\" data-end=\"2442\">\n<p data-start=\"2402\" data-end=\"2442\">A cleaner roster fit for Redick\u2019s vision<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2444\" data-end=\"2507\">For Knecht, a change of scenery might be exactly what he needs.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"2509\" data-end=\"2757\">\n<p data-start=\"2511\" data-end=\"2636\">\u201cFreeing their former first-round pick should help both sides get what they should really be looking for,\u201d Rovenchuk wrote.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2643\" data-end=\"2757\">\u201cThe hope for Knecht would be finding a situation that is more readily willing to lean on his strengths as a pro.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr data-start=\"2759\" data-end=\"2762\" \/>\n<h2 data-start=\"2764\" data-end=\"2789\">Still Time for a Reset<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,x_0,y_143,w_6762,h_3803\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/20\/01jm0j7338kw3yhb8tyk.jpg\" alt=\"Dalton Knecht reminds Lakers why failed trade was a blessing in disguise\" \/><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2791\" data-end=\"3060\">The silver lining for Knecht is age and timing. At <strong data-start=\"2842\" data-end=\"2858\">24 years old<\/strong> with just one full NBA season under his belt, his career is far from defined. A different system \u2014 one that prioritizes volume shooting and provides defensive cover \u2014 could allow him to reset and grow.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3062\" data-end=\"3246\">For the Lakers, holding onto a player who no longer fits risks stagnation. For Knecht, staying in a situation where his role continues to shrink could stall his development altogether.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3248\" data-end=\"3338\">Sometimes, the best move isn\u2019t forcing a fit \u2014 it\u2019s recognizing when it\u2019s time to move on.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3340\" data-end=\"3476\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">In this case, a Dalton Knecht trade may be exactly that: <strong data-start=\"3397\" data-end=\"3476\" data-is-last-node=\"\">a clean break that helps both sides find what they\u2019re actually looking for.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dalton Knecht\u2019s Lakers Tenure Has Hit a Crossroads \u2014 and a Trade May Be the Best Outcome Dalton Knecht\u2019s time with the Los Angeles Lakers has not&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":142469,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-142463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>\ud83d\udea8 LAKERS TRADE ALERT! After a rough run, Dalton Knecht might be part of the shake-up in a deal fans are calling a win for everyone. - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=142463\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\ud83d\udea8 LAKERS TRADE ALERT! 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