Lakers Reportedly Tried Hard To Deal Dalton Knecht At Trade Deadline
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The Los Angeles Lakers made only one move before this year’s NBA trade deadline—sending Gabe Vincent and a future second-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Luke Kennard—despite wider expectations of a busier day.
League sources told Dan Woike of The Athletic that general manager Rob Pelinka “shopped aggressively” to find a new home for second-year guard Dalton Knecht but could not secure a deal. According to the report, Los Angeles would likely have needed to attach additional draft compensation, similar to the pick included in the Vincent trade, to persuade teams to take on Knecht.
Early Promise, Recent Decline
Knecht, 24, was selected 17th overall in the 2024 draft out of Tennessee and opened his rookie campaign with encouraging performances. At last season’s deadline, he was briefly dealt to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams, but the trade was rescinded, returning him to the Lakers. Since then, his production and confidence have dipped.
Contract Status A Factor
Earlier this season, Los Angeles exercised Knecht’s third-year rookie-scale team option for 2026-27. The extra year on his contract reduced the appeal for clubs seeking expiring deals and additional financial flexibility heading into the summer. Without spare draft assets to sweeten an offer, the Lakers were unable to find a taker.
Knecht remains on the roster for the rest of the season, giving him an opportunity to rediscover his early-career form before the front office revisits trade possibilities in the offseason.
Source: Lakers Nation
