The Los Angeles Lakers can have some large selections to make this offseason concerning a possible future with LeBron James and a looming Austin Reaves free company. However, the circulating NBA rumors proper now focus on one other deal the crew reportedly needs to make.
According to Jovan Buha, the Lakers are “going to be shopping” guard Dalton Knecht all through the summer season. While it’s unclear how a lot curiosity there’ll be within the former first-round decide, Los Angeles will scour across the league for potential choices.
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Dalton Knecht stats (2025-26): 4.0 PPG, 1.4 RPG, 0.6 3PM per recreation, 30.4% 3PT
Knecht, who shall be 25 years outdated later this month, has performed simply 515 whole minutes throughout 50 video games through the common season. He made his lone begin on Nov. 3 in opposition to the Portland Trail Blazers, recording 8 factors with 4 rebounds in 23 minutes of motion. He’s solely performed 20-plus minutes 5 occasions this season and the final time it occurred got here on Nov. 15.
He hasn’t been a part of the Lakers rotation in additional than a month. He performed 16 minutes on Feb. 10 in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs, a 136-108 loss. Even together with that motion, Knecht has averaged simply 4.5 minutes performed per recreation in 16 appearances since Jan. 15.
Dalton Knecht contract (Spotrac): $4.201 million cap hit (2026-27), $6.452 million membership possibility for 2027-28 season, RFA in 2028
It’s a steep decline for the seventeenth general decide within the 2024 NBA Draft. Knecht confirmed flashes of promise as a rookie, averaging 1.6 three-pointers made per recreation whereas capturing 37.6 % from past the arc and averaging 9.1 PPG. It’s price noting, nonetheless, {that a} majority of that manufacturing got here in his first 19 video games, when he shot 43.9 % from the perimeter and averaged 2.5 three-pointers made and 12.2 PPG.
Knecht’s introduced restricted worth as a fringe scorer since then, and the 6-foot-6 ahead can be broadly considered as one of many worst defenders within the NBA. Given how expendable he’s confirmed to be for the Lakers, it’s onerous to see him having a lot commerce worth this summer season.
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