Lakers urged to cut ties with struggling $18 million guard who reportedly requested trade

Lakers urged to cut ties with struggling $18 million guard who reportedly requested trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Like the 2025 offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers must prioritize shedding dead weight from their roster in the coming months.

Truthfully, the Lakers have their fair share of players who have no business remaining with the franchise beyond the 2025-26 season.

A struggling second-year guard who reportedly requested a trade from Los Angeles before the deadline should be atop the list, according to Lake Show Life’s Svyatoslav Rovenchuk.

“Dalton Knecht is someone who has overstayed his welcome in LosAngeles,” Rovenchuk wrote Monday. "The wheels really began to fall off for Knecht after the infamous Mark Williams trade that never was.”

“The Lakers' sharpshooter has been incapable of sustaining a spot in JJ Redick’s rotation since. Knecht has been somewhat miscast on the Lakers. The former first-round pick operates best as a scorer, rather than an off-ball shooter.”

“Knecht has inexplicably survived plenty of major stretches post-Williams trade debacle without being moved, despite constant speculation about his future in Los Angeles. Whether it be for a couple of second-rounders, or a different buy-low player, this should be the offseason in which the 25-year-old finally puts on new threads.”

On Jan 28. ClutchPoints’ Anthony Irwin reported that Knecht approached the Lakers’ front office and expressed his desire for the franchise to trade him before Feb. 5.

Obviously, the Lakers failed to find a trade partner for the former Tennessee star, which was the worst-case scenario considering that both sides desperately need a fresh start.

Knecht was solid in spurts with the Lakers, but his one-dimensional offensive approach and non-existent defense left Redick no choice but to lower his minutes.

Knecht averaged 4.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.3 assists with the Lakers in Year 2, shooting 45.5% from the field and 34.2% from long range.

Moving on from the 6-foot-6 wing seems like an inevitable move for the Lakers this summer.

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