Lakers Demote Promising Recent Draft Pick

Nov 18, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick at press conference at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers have demoted a promising young recent draft pick — on the first day most players signed in free agency over the summer become trade-eligible, no less.

Granted, second-year swingman Dalton Knecht has been trade-eligible for a while, as Lakers fans no doubt recall the 6-foot-6 former Tennessee Volunteers All-American being nearly flipped to the Charlotte Hornets in a botched deadline deal to acquire Mark Williams during his rookie season in 2024-25.

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Williams infamously flunked his team physical (supposedly), and the trade was rescinded. Charlotte later shipped him out to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for two draft picks, among other assets, and he's been largely healthy in the intervening months.

Per Dan Woike of The Athletic, Knecht received more bad news on Monday.

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After failing to crack head coach JJ Redick's revamped rotation so far this year, Knecht — and rookie second-round pick Adou Thiero — is being sent to LA's G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. Now, Knecht will earn major minutes in El Segundo.

Across 24 games with Los Angeles this season, the 24-year-old Knecht has been averaging 6.4 points on .471/.362/.667 shooting splits, 1.9 boards, and 0.6 assists per.

In theory, he'd help the Lakers' triumvirate of driving stars — five-time All-NBA First Team guard Luka Doncic, 21-time All-NBA forward LeBron James, and likely 2026 All-Star guard Austin Reaves — spread the floor.

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But Redick clearly no longer trusts Knecht, and considering how sparingly he's played since he was returned in that bungled trade last February, it doesn't seem like the former No. 17 pick in 2024 is viewed as a major part of his current team's future plans.

Knecht's current $4 million rookie-scale contract this season is a shade above a veteran's minimum, and he may still have the most value as a money-matching piece in a deal for a more seasoned veteran.

Thiero, meanwhile, has played sparingly since recovering from a knee surgery incurred while he was still with the Arkansas Razorbacks last year. In nine games, Thiero has played sparingly, averaging 1.1 points and 0.7 rebounds in 5.8 mop-up minutes per.

For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.