The Los Angeles Lakers face immediate concerns about their playoff readiness with stars Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves sidelined by injuries, but offseason roster decisions are already taking shape behind the scenes. According to NBA insider Jovan Buha, the organization appears ready to move on from one of their recent draft selections.
On the latest episode of his YouTube show, Buha revealed that the Lakers "are going to be shopping" Dalton Knecht in trades this summer. This assessment comes amid a challenging final stretch of the regular season for the purple and gold.
Dončić (hamstring) and Reaves (oblique) have both been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season due to injuries. ESPN's Shams Charania reported the expectation is both will miss at least the start of the playoffs.
The injury situation has created unexpected opportunities for players like Knecht to demonstrate their value in potential playoff scenarios. However, the 24-year-old guard has struggled to secure consistent playing time under head coach JJ Redick.
Outside of a few strong outings during his rookie year, Knecht has been dropped from head coach JJ Redick's rotation. He hasn't played more than six minutes in a game since Feb. 10 and has bounced between the NBA club and G League.
The No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft has frequently surfaced in trade rumors throughout his brief career. He was set to be dealt to the Charlotte Hornets prior to the trade deadline last season as part of the Mark Williams trade, but the deal was rescinded.
Knecht has appeared in 50 games this season, making one start. He is averaging 4.0 points on 44.6 percent shooting (30.4 percent from three).
The Tennessee product showed promising signs during his rookie campaign, averaging 9.1 points on 37.6 percent three-point shooting across 78 appearances. His affordable contract—$4.2 million owed next season with a $6.5 million team option for 2027-28—could make him an attractive trade piece for teams seeking cost-controlled young talent.
With the Lakers navigating their rotation without Dončić and Reaves for the immediate future, players like Knecht have a final opportunity to enhance their trade value during the regular season's closing games and potential playoff appearances. His performance in these critical moments could significantly impact his market value as Los Angeles contemplates offseason moves.
The Lakers' front office faces numerous decisions beyond the Knecht situation, including planning for LeBron James' future and building a contender around their core stars. How they handle the young guard's trade scenario will offer insight into their broader team-building strategy heading into the 2026-27 season.
