Former Tennessee superstar Dalton Knecht wrapped up his second season in the NBA with a 4-0 series sweep to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs. Knecht tallied eight total minutes in three losing games for the Lakers, but it wasn’t in any sort of impactful stretch.
This also comes after he tallied just 10 minutes on the court during the Lakers’ 4-2 series win over the Houston Rockets in the opening round of the playoffs.
In his second season as a whole, Knecht averaged just 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 58 games on the court. He averaged 10.2 minutes on the court per appearance with one nod in the starting lineup.
Knecht’s standing with the Lakers has felt shaky ever since the rare nullified trade that he was involved in during his rookie season. The former Tennessee sharpshooter was originally sent to the Charlotte Hornets at the trade deadline, but the deal was nixed after Charlotte’s trade piece failed his physical with the Lakers.
Ever since then, things have felt rocky. Knecht took 557 shots in his first year, but that number plummeted to just 191 shots during his second year with the team. His name was tossed around in potential trade scenarios at the deadline this past season, but nothing ultimately manifested as rumors swirled of potential diminished value due to his lack of usage.
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Without anything concrete yet, it feels plausible that Knecht could once again be involved in some trade talks this offseason as he enters his third year in the league. The Lakers clearly don’t see much of a role for him, especially after the blockbuster Luka Doncic trade, and a change of scenery would likely go a long way for the former Vol.
Svyatoslav Rovenchuk of Lake Show Life is someone who believes that a separation between the two sides is necessary for the future. Rovenchuk says that Knecht was “somewhat miscast” with the Lakers.
“Knecht has inexplicably survived plenty of major stretches post-Williams trade debacle without being moved, despite constant speculation about his future in Los Angeles,” Rovenchuk writes. “Whether it be for a couple of second rounders, or a different buy-low player, this should be the offseason in which the 25-year-old finally puts on new threads.”
The biggest question for the Lakers is whether LeBron James will return for his record 24th season in the association. Aside from that, though, the team appears to be focused on building the best team it can around future MVP Luka Doncic. It seems like Knecht may not be in those plans with JJ Redick at the helm, and there’s a chance that his time in L.A. comes to an end this offseason.
New threads would be a welcome sight for the beloved former Tennessee Volunteer before the start of the 2026-2027 season.
