Los Angeles Lakers forward Dalton Knecht’s rookie year was similar to the experiences of many first-year NBA players in the sense that it was quite up and down.

In the 2024-25 regular season, he proved to be a solid rotational piece for Los Angeles and turned heads with his ability to score the rock from 3-point range, as he shot 37.6 percent from 3 on 4.4 attempts per game.

Although, when the 2025 NBA Playoffs rolled around, Knecht was a non-factor for the Lakers. He played in only two of Los Angeles’ five games during its first-round matchup versus the Minnesota Timberwolves and scored just five points the whole series.

With the small role Knecht just recently played for the Lakers in the playoffs, Lakers insider Jovan Buha doesn’t foresee Knecht being more than an eighth man for the storied franchise in the 2025-26 campaign.

“Basically, it comes down to the Lakers only have so many assets to trade, and Dalton Knecht I think at best next season is an eighth man and probably is an eighth, ninth man,” Buha said. “And when thinking about the Lakers trying to get a starting center or a starting wing, you need to give something up to get that player.”

The Lakers used the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft on Knecht, and he was easily Los Angeles’ most productive rookie, even if he didn’t get the media attention that guard Bronny James did. Los Angeles’ decision to draft James with the No. 55 overall pick was notable because of who his father is, but he ultimately suited up in just 27 of the Lakers’ 82 regular-season contests.

Interestingly enough, the Lakers agreed to trade Knecht and other assets to the Charlotte Hornets for big man Mark Williams before the February trade deadline, but the Lakers later put the kibosh on the move after Williams failed his physical.

Los Angeles has already almost traded Knecht away for a center, and the team should finally pull the trigger on moving him for an upgrade at the big man spot this offseason.

One highly talented big man who would make sense for the Lakers to take a flier on is Boston Celtics star Kristaps Porzingis.

Porzingis’ trade value might be at an all-time low after how he fared in Boston’s second-round series against the New York Knicks, but he’s also proven to be one of the more talented big men in the league when at full strength.