Lakers Draft Pick Tipped to Draw Trade Interest Despite Struggles

The Los Angeles Lakers have handled fixed disruption to their rotation this season, with accidents repeatedly forcing adjustments to lineups and roles.

Amid that instability, second-year guard Dalton Knecht he has struggled to set up himself, discovering his position more and more lowered regardless of remaining accessible.

Selected seventeenth total within the 2024 NBA Draft, Knecht entered the league with the expectation that his perimeter taking pictures would translate rapidly on the NBA degree.

The rescinded trade to the Charlotte Hornets final season has appeared to knock his confidence, and he has but to rediscover constant offensive rhythm since.

Lakers Guard Slips out of Rotation Amid Difficult Second Season

Through 48 video games this season, Knecht is averaging 4.2 factors and 1.4 rebounds in 10.6 minutes per contest, taking pictures 44.8% from the sector and 30.7% from three-point vary.

While he noticed sporadic alternatives earlier within the season, his position has all however disappeared in latest weeks.

Across seven appearances in February, Knecht logged simply 36 complete minutes, and thru three video games in March, he has performed solely 10 minutes regardless of being totally wholesome.

His place within the rotation has diminished considerably, leaving his long-term future with the franchise more and more unsure.

Although no deal materialized on the February commerce deadline, Behind The Buck Pass‘William Moxon believes an offseason transfer may nonetheless emerge, with the Milwaukee Bucks recognized as a possible touchdown spot.

“While nothing is set in stone, [his G League assignments] could open the door for the Milwaukee Bucks to trade for him on the cheap and turn him into their next reclamation project, similar to Ousmane Dieng“Moxon wrote.

“The bright lights of LA can play havoc with a player, with Knecht’s early performances almost being his downfall. Fans then began to really put pressure on him as a rookie to be this key rotation piece right away.”

G League Flashes Highlight Untapped Potential

Knecht has received multiple G League assignments to the South Bay Lakers in recent months, offering glimpses of the talent that made him a first-round selection.

Moxon suggests those assignments could lower his perceived value, creating an opportunity for another team to acquire him at a reduced cost and invest in his development.

“Milwaukee has struggled with its drafting, but has been successful in picking up forgotten young players on the cheap,” Moxon added. “Dieng has been very impressive since arriving. Kevin Porter Jr. was a steal of a trade, and then Ryan Rollins and AJ Green are players they picked up on two-way deals and have grown into key rotation pieces. Knecht could follow in those footsteps.”

The Bucks at present rank second within the NBA in three-point proportion at 38.8%, trailing solely the Denver Nuggetswhereas additionally sitting fifth in made threes per sport (14.8).

Given their reliance on perimeter taking pictures, and the uncertainty surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s long-term future, a low-risk transfer for a shooter like Knecht may make sense inside a possible roster reset.

Knecht has already proven what he’s able to within the G League with South Bay, together with a 30-point outing in his debut project again in December.

In that efficiency, he added 5 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block, taking pictures 10-of-17 from the sector and 6-of-10 from past the arc.

In the best setting, with constant minutes and lowered stress, Knecht should still rediscover the shape that after made him a first-round decide.

Matt Evans is a sports activities journalist from the United Kingdom, primarily based in Paris, with over a decade of expertise masking the NBA and wider international sport. More about Matt Evans