While moving on from young assets with potential isn’t easy for a championship-aspiring franchise, it’s necessary to make impactful in-season moves before the trade deadline.
In the Los Angeles Lakers’ case, Lake Show Life’s Quinn Everts believes that trading a 6-foot-6 second-year guard after a disappointing stint with the organization is the right way to go.
“This isn't how this was supposed to go! Dalton Knecht stole Lakers' fans hearts in the first few months of his career, only to completely flatline after that,” Everts wrote Saturday.
“He was traded — then un-traded — to the Charlotte Hornets last year, and you can't blame a guy for mentally checking out after he's forced to return to a team that traded him.”
“I refuse to give up on Knecht; despite the defensive limitations, I still believe he has a place in the NBA. That place is probably not with the Lakers, though. He still looks somewhat lost on the court, and the shooting hasn't been good enough (34% three-point shooting percentage this year) to justify regular minutes.”
“Knecht should still garner some interest around the league; the return package might not be thrilling, but he's only in his second season, and the shooting upside will be enough to convince a team to take a chance on him.”
Knecht needs a change of scenery more than ever. Inconsistent playing time can negatively affect a player’s confidence forward, which is likely what’s happening to the Lakers’ 2024 No. 17 overall pick.
The good news is that Knecht has shown enough promise to attract interest from various franchises in the trade market, which is a win for everyone. Finding an ideal trade partner for Knecht will allow the 24-year-old to start over and give the Lakers an organization-strengthening asset or two in return.
Hopefully, for both parties' sake, the Lakers trade Knecht before the Feb. 5 deadline.
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