Failed Lakers trade prophesized Dalton Knechts epic downfall

Both Dalton Knecht and the Lakers took a giant kick to the chin. As for the Lakers?They waived their No.17 pick in the 2024 draft on Monday after trying to use the 25-year-old forward as trade bait but getting no bites. This is their second first-round pick in the last few years that turned out to be fool’s gold following selecting Jalen Hood-Schifino with the 17th overall pick in the 2023 draft and then declining his third-year option and watching him slip out of the league. As for Knecht?He went from being a promising stud who had back-to-back 27-point and 37-point performances his rookie season to slipping out of Lakers coach JJ Redick’s rotation. His fall from grace was precipitous, leaving the forward treading water in no-man’s land with his best option at this point likely being signing a two-way contract. So, how did we get here? This is unfortunate for both parties.

The Lakers let a desperately-needed first-round draft pick evaporate into thin air.And Knecht’s career is snowballing downhill. Things reached a critical point in February 2025. Shortly after the Lakers stunned the basketball world by acquiring Luka Dončić from the Mavericks ahead of the trade deadline, they sent Knecht, Cam Reddish, a future first-round pick and a pick swap to the Hornets in exchange for Mark Williams. But Williams failed his physical with the Lakers, who then rescinded the deal.

That meant Knecht had to tuck his tail between his legs and walk back into a locker room that had been ready to move on without him. There’s no coming back from that, really. How could his confidence not be irrevocably shaken by that? Imagine your boss firing you.Then getting a call from him, saying, “Never mind.” And then having to go into the office the next day. After that, Knecht’s deficits became more and more glaring. He was liability on defense.

And when his shot wasn’t falling, trying to plug him into a roster that needed shooters that could create space for ...