Following a wire-to-wire win over the Phoenix Suns Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers have made a tough yet necessary decision on a young forward who has fallen out of the rotation. According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, the team has assigned sophomore wing Dalton Knecht to the G League’s South Bay Lakers alongside rookie forward Adou Thiero.
Lakers Make Bold Decision on Former First-Round Pick
Growing Concerns Over Knecht’s Future
While Thiero’s assignment is expected as a second-round pick trapped in a logjam of defensive pests, Knecht’s assignment may be a surprise amid his fall from grace.
Drafted 17th overall by the Lakers last year, the 24-year-old enjoyed a relatively productive rookie season, averaging 9.1 points per game on 46% shooting from the field and 37% from three. His solid output came with a level of trust from head coach JJ Redick and his staff, who played Knecht an average of 19 minutes per game last season and inserted him into the starting lineup amid a slew of injuries to the first unit. Despite a botched midseason trade and a disappointing Summer League, the Lakers reiterated their trust in Knecht by picking up his team option nearly two months ago.
Fast forward to now, and Knecht has endured a sophomore slump neither he nor the team could have wanted. Through 20 games with an average of 15.1 minutes per contest, Knecht is averaging 6.4 points and 1.9 rebounds on .471/362/.667 splits. Aside from five efficient double-digit performances in October and November, Knecht’s impact has been marginal. The emergence of Jake LaRavia and return of Jarred Vanderbilt hasn’t helped Knecht’s case for rotation minutes either, likely leading the Lakers to put him in the G League to give him more reps.
Dalton Knecht Still in Trade Rumors
Coincidentally, Knecht’s assignment comes on the same day that most Lakers (along with other free agents who switched teams this summer) can be traded. While that shouldn’t suggest that a deal is imminent, it’s worth noting that the Lakers are reportedly shopping Knecht again for a “rotational upgrade,” according to Forbes’ Evan Sidery.
Knecht is earning $4 million as part of his rookie contract, with his looming team option set to pay him $4.2 million and $6.4 million in the next two seasons, respectively. If the Lakers finally moved on from the polarizing sophomore, they could do so in a minor swap or as part of a larger deal that includes one of the team’s expiring contracts: veteran Gabe Vincent ($11.5 million)—who has struggled as LA’s ninth man in the rotation—or Maxi Kleber ($11 million), who has played sparingly behind a crowded group of bigs.
The Last Word on Dalton Knecht and the Lakers
Knecht’s G League assignment may halt any trade rumors for now, but it could also be a chance for him to regain some confidence as the Lakers continue a strong start to the season. While Los Angeles doesn’t play again until Thursday in Utah, South Bay’s campaign continues with a Tuesday night tilt against the San Diego Clippers (7 p.m. PT).
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