The 2025 NBA draft kicked off with Round 1 on Wednesday night, revealing the first professional homes for 30 up-and-coming prospects. The Los Angeles Lakers didn't have an opening round pick due to the 2019 Anthony Davis trade, though, leaving general manager Rob Pelinka to look at Round 2 and the upcoming free agency period for help to upgrade the roster.
The trade market is another tool the Lakers can use to bolster head coach JJ Redick's lineup. Having said that, Los Angeles' salary cap situation means the team will likely need to trade a player or two (maybe three) to pull off any sort of offseason deal, especially if it's for an impact veteran to play alongside LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
With plenty of trades already hitting the NBA landscape this summer, it wouldn't be surprising to learn if one Lakers wing is already on the trade block.
Lakers' Dalton Knecht Likely on Trade Block After Round 1 of NBA Draft
A handful of Lakers are candidates to be traded this offseason, ranging from Gabe Vincent to Jarred Vanderbilt. While those names could help GM Pelinka land a decent contributor, they likely won't have as much trade value as Dalton Knecht, who's also in danger of being moved this summer.
Knecht's time in L.A. started on a bright note as the 17th overall pick of the 2024 NBA draft. The hope was that a former sharpshooter like Reddick could take advantage of the impressive offensive upside the Fargo, ND native displayed throughout his time at the University of Tennessee.
It didn't take long for Knecht to become a big part of the Lakers' lineup plans, as he played an average of 20.7 minutes across his first 48 games (12 starts). Unfortunately, his outlook took a turn for the worse when he was a part of the failed Mark Williams trade with the Charlotte Hornets.
It took Knecht a few games to return to the lineup after the trade was rescinded, and by that point, it was clear he no longer had a key role carved out. He only averaged 10 minutes of playing time in the final 12 regular-season games before being held to a total of three minutes and 40 seconds across two playoff appearances.
The Lakers don't value Knecht as much as they did a year ago, or else he would've had a bigger postseason role. The lack of playing time combined with the failed trade with the Hornets could have side effects on the 24-year-old's psyche, highlighting how a trade is the fresh start both sides need. After all, there's bound to be another team that still believes in his potential.
A former first-round pick is the perfect sweetener for a bigger trade, and that's likely how the Lakers view Knecht at the moment. L.A. fans shouldn't be surprised if he's the first domino to fall in what could be a busy offseason.