Everyone thought the Los Angeles Lakers pulled off a heist in the 2024 NBA Draft. When Dalton Knecht fell to the 17th pick, the "steal of the draft" labels were everywhere. Honestly, for a minute there, it looked true. The kid from Tennessee was light out as a rookie, even tying an NBA record with nine threes in a single game. Fast forward to January 2026, and the vibe is completely different. Now, Dalton Knecht trade rumors dominate the Lakers' discourse as the February 5th deadline looms.
It's messy. The Lakers are sitting around the 5th seed in the West, anchored by a 41-year-old LeBron James and a MVP-caliber Luka Doncic—yeah, that happened—but the bench is a disaster. They're dead last in bench scoring. Knecht was supposed to be the flamethrower that kept the second unit alive. Instead, he’s spent a chunk of this season with the South Bay Lakers in the G League. When he does play for the big club, the numbers are depressing: 5.1 points on roughly 31% shooting from deep.
What went wrong with the draft steal?
NBA life comes at you fast. Last season, the Lakers almost traded Knecht to Charlotte for Mark Williams, but the deal fell through because Williams failed his physical. Since that moment, Knecht’s confidence has looked shot. JJ Redick has been brutally honest about it, too. He basically told reporters that Knecht’s minutes aren't about his jumper anymore; they're about whether he actually plays hard on defense.
You can't hide a "movement shooter" who isn't hitting shots. If the threes don't fall, and you're getting cooked on the other end, you're unplayable in a Redick system. It’s a classic catch-22. He needs minutes to find his rhythm, but the Lakers are too desperate for wins to let him clank shots for 20 minutes a night.
The Keon Ellis and Sacramento Connection
The most persistent Dalton Knecht trade rumors right now involve the Sacramento Kings. It makes a ton of sense on paper. The Kings are having a rough year (10-30), and they need cheap, controllable scoring. Knecht is only making about $4 million. Sacramento has Keon Ellis, a defensive pest who shoots over 40% from three but doesn't get enough run in a crowded Kings backcourt.
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A straight swap—or something involving a second-round pick—has been floated by analysts like Dan Woike and Thomas Carelli. The Lakers need a "dirty work" guard. Someone who can actually guard a point of attack so LeBron doesn't have to chase 22-year-olds around screens. Ellis is that guy.
- Lakers get: Keon Ellis (and potentially bench depth like Saddiq Bey in a larger deal).
- Kings get: Dalton Knecht (the "buy low" shooting prospect) and a pick.
The "Zero Trade Value" Problem
Here is the cold, hard truth: rival GMs aren't stupid. You can’t shop a player who is currently averaging 5 points and shooting 31% from three and expect a haul. Rumors from The Athletic suggest that Knecht’s trade value is at an all-time low. Teams see him as a 24-year-old sophomore who might already be what he's going to be.
If Rob Pelinka wants to upgrade this roster, he might have to attach the 2031 first-round pick. That’s the Lakers' most "valuable" asset, but it’s also their last bullet. Do you really fire that bullet to turn Dalton Knecht into a rotation player like Keon Ellis or Herb Jones? Probably not. But the clock is ticking on LeBron’s career.
The Jonathan Kuminga Wildcard
There’s a crazier scenario floating around out there involving the Golden State Warriors. Reports suggest the Lakers have a "surprise interest" in Jonathan Kuminga. To match Kuminga’s $22.5 million salary, the Lakers would have to pack Rui Hachimura and Knecht together.
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Sam Quinn of CBS Sports mentioned this as a "take a swing" move. It’s a 5% chance kind of deal. If this season is a wash, you grab Kuminga and see if his talent pops next to Luka. For the Warriors, Knecht is just a salary filler with a tiny bit of upside. It’s a far cry from the "future of the franchise" talk we heard after his 37-point explosion as a rookie.
Why a split is probably inevitable
The Lakers can't wait for Dalton to find himself. They have a core that needs to win now. JJ Redick recently reinserted Knecht into the rotation because of injuries to Gabe Vincent and Austin Reaves, but it feels like a final audition. If he doesn't show he can be a reliable floor spacer by February 5, he's gone.
The fit just isn't there anymore. The Lakers need "3-and-D" specialists, and right now, Knecht is a "maybe-3-and-no-D" player. A team like the Kings or even the Blazers could give him 25 minutes a night to work through his slump. In L.A., every missed shot feels like a crisis.
What should the Lakers do?
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If you're a Lakers fan, you're probably torn. You remember the high-flying dunks and the "Knecht 4" memes. But you also see the defensive lapses. Honestly, the smart move is probably moving him now while he still has "prospect" status. Once a player hits 25 and is still stuck in the G League, the "untapped potential" argument disappears.
Actionable Next Steps for Lakers Fans:
- Watch the Minutes: Keep a close eye on Knecht's playing time over the next 10 days. If his minutes drop despite the injuries to Reaves and Vincent, a trade is imminent.
- Monitor the 2031 Pick: Any deal involving Knecht that actually brings back a starter-level player will require that 2031 pick. If news breaks that the pick is "off the table," expect a very quiet deadline.
- Check the Sacramento Box Scores: If Keon Ellis starts racking up DNP-CDs (Did Not Play - Coach's Decision), it’s a massive signal that the Kings are ready to move him for a different look.
The February 5th deadline will define the rest of the LeBron-Luka era. Whether Dalton Knecht is a part of that future or just another "what if" in Lakers history depends on these next three weeks.