Dalton Knecht, shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, had a one-of-a-kind event this week that most NBA players never have in their lifetimes.
The Lakers dealt the rookie sharpshooter, a first-round pick in 2031, a first-round pick swap in 2030, and teammate Cam Reddish to the Charlotte Hornets before the league’s Feb. 6 deadline in exchange for center Mark Williams. L.A. made the move at the request of newly acquired superstar Luka Doncic, demonstrating the organization’s readiness to fulfill his desire to play alongside a lob threat.
While Doncic almost definitely did not specify who he wanted the Lakers to trade in order to acquire a rim-running/rim-protecting big man, Doncic’s presence and subsequent personnel requests prompted the team to transfer Knecht in the first place. As a result, it was likely awkward for the rookie to return to Los Angeles just days after the Lakers canceled the trade due to Williams’ failed medical.
Following the Lakers’ 12-point road defeat to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, February 12, Knecht discussed the awkwardness and rawness of returning to the organization that drafted and moved him during his first calendar year in the NBA.
“It was a crazy time,” Knecht told Jovan Buha of The Athletic. “Not many people have done that, returned [after being traded].” At the end of the day, all I wanted to do was hoop.
Dalton Knecht spoke about playing alongside Luka Doncic.
Knecht said that the circumstances of the botched trade were “hard” to deal with, but he also had positive things to say about his first time playing with Doncic as teammates.
“The passes he was making out there, it’s crazy,” Knecht said. “They told me right away that whenever [Doncic] had the ball, he should be prepared to shoot. He will get it to you, no matter what. And witnessing a couple of passes to [Austin Reaves] and [LeBron James], he didn’t even look. So that was wild. “I’m thrilled.”
Knecht played 17 minutes on Wednesday night, the team’s final game before the week-long NBA All-Star break.
Lakers are likely to revisit trade options. This offseason
Regardless of what Knecht is openly thinking or what he has discussed with confidantes up to this point, the 23-year-old has handled the situation with maturity and class, doing everything the correct way on the outside.
That doesn’t mean he won’t be available for trade once the free agency period begins this summer.
In mid-February, it’s tough to predict whether the Lakers will try to deal Knecht again. What is clear is that the team will attempt to locate Doncic the lob threat he desires as well as the rim protector the defense will require in the coming years.
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