It appears the Los Angeles Lakers are ready to move on from a disgruntled second-year wing after less than two seasons.
According to Lakers Insider Anthony Irwin, the franchise's 2024 first-round pick (the No. 17 overall pick) wants to depart Los Angeles, and the 17-time NBA champions are expected to satisfy his demand.
“In other news, I'm told Dalton Knecht approached the Lakers front office recently and has asked to be traded. It's expected they'll grant his wish.” Irwin reported on X/Twitter on Wednesday.
It was only a matter of time before Knecht demanded a trade from the Lakers. The Tennessee product’s role with the Doncic-led Western Conference squad has diminished, making it foolish to continue the Knecht experiment in Los Angeles.
On the bright side, Knecht is a talented, young player who should generate moderate trade interest from several NBA franchises, allowing him to resurrect his career elsewhere.
Teams in need of a second-unit spark plug who can get hot from beyond the arc and in the mid-range area will likely pursue Knecht on the trade market. Knecht is averaging 7.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 0.7 assists per game to begin his young NBA career, shooting 45.6% from the field and 36.4% from three in 114 contests.
It’s safe to say that Knecht’s time in Los Angeles is coming to an end.
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