Lakers hit Dalton Knecht with a double whammy at the NBA trade deadline

Lakers pick up a sharpshooter in Luke Kennard, further diluting any value Dalton Knecht might have left

Knecht's defense has been a problem since he's come into the league, but his offense — when he's allowed to actually play — hasn't been the problem. Knecht appeared in 78 games from 2024-25 with the Lakers, and his three-point percentage was 37.6%, which was tied with LeBron James and within a few thousandths of a point from Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic.

Knecht's three-point percentage has dropped to 31.3% this season, but it's hard to take much from this season with as sporadically as he's been used.

Now, the Lakers added one of the best three-point shooters in the league in Kennard, who currently leads the NBA in three-point percentage at 49.7%. And the move is even more head-scratching, as Kennard has been considered somewhat of a defensive liability, which doesn't fit with the rationale behind sitting Knecht as much as JJ Redick has done this season.

In any event, what's done is done, and it appears as though Knecht's seat on the bench just got bumped down one further for a player. And it looks like he's stuck there as a spectator until at least the end of the season.