Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Lakers Announce Dalton Knecht Move Before NBA Playoffs

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Apr 1, 2026 5:16 PM ET

Dalton Knecht and the Los Angeles Lakers secured a fourth-straight win on Tuesday, jumping to 50-26 on the 2025-26 NBA season after a 127-113 win over Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now, the Lakers will turn their attention to Thursday's matchup, hitting the road to face Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Against the Cavaliers, Knecht didn’t see any action until checking in with 1:21 remaining, getting some garbage-time minutes and failing to record a statistic. The former Tennessee Volunteers star showed promise during his rookie season in 2024-25, averaging 9.1 points in 19.2 minutes per game. But Knecht’s role has decreased significantly this season, as he is averaging 4.0 points in just 10.3 minutes per game.

Los Angeles Lakers wing Dalton Knecht (4)© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Throughout the 2025-26 NBA season, Knecht has gone back and forth between Los Angeles and its G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. He has only appeared in four games with South Bay but has seen substantial increases in his numbers, averaging 21.3 points on 50.9% shooting, 6.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 32.6 minutes per game.

And on Wednesday, just a few weeks before the NBA playoffs begin, the Lakers assigned Knecht to South Bay once again, joining guard Kobe Bufkin and forward Adou Thiero. But this time around, Knecht may be getting some more G League action as No. 1 seed South Bay is set to take on the No. 8 seed San Diego Clippers, the G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Clippers, to begin the first round of the 2026 NBA G League Playoffs.

"Lakers announce Kobe Bufkin, Dalton Knecht and Adou Thiero have been assigned to South Bay ahead of tonight’s opening-round playoff game against the San Diego Clippers," ClutchPoints' David Mendez-Yapkowitz wrote on X. "I’ll be there live with complete coverage including postgame reactions."

Lakers announce Kobe Bufkin, Dalton Knecht and Adou Thiero have been assigned to South Bay ahead of tonight’s opening-round playoff game against the San Diego Clippers.

I’ll be there live with complete coverage including postgame reactions.
— David Mendez-Yapkowitz (@Dave_Yapkowitz) April 1, 2026

While Knecht is heading back to the G League, Luka Doncic and the Lakers will take on the Thunder on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. ET. Then, they will make their way to Texas to face Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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