Lakers Insider: Dalton Knecht's Trade Value Dropped but Market Hasn't 'Soured'

Even though Dalton Knecht has cooled off after a hot start to this season, the Los Angeles Lakers rookie still has solid trade value around the NBA if the team were to explore a deal prior to the Feb. 6 deadline.

On the latest episode of his YouTube show (starts at 51:10 mark), The Athletic's Jovan Buha explained the value for Knecht is "lower" now than it was earlier this season when people in the NBA were talking about him potentially being worth two first-round picks, but there's not a sense his market has "soured" at this point.

Buha did note the quality of the first-round picks the Lakers might have gotten for Knecht earlier in the season was unknown.

Knecht looked like he was going to be the favorite for Rookie of the Year with how he started the 2024-25 campaign. The 23-year-old averaged 12.2 points on 43.9 percent three-point shooting in his first 19 games.

That stretch included back-to-back games with 27 points against the New Orleans Pelicans and 37 points against the Utah Jazz. He tied the NBA single-game rookie record with nine threes in the Jazz game.

Since Dec. 1, though, Knecht has looked like a rookie finding his footing in the NBA. He's averaging 6.8 points on 41.3 percent shooting (24.1 percent from three) in 25 appearances.

After starting 11 of 13 games between Nov. 15-Dec. 8, head coach JJ Redick dropped Knecht from the opening lineup starting on Dec. 13 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Knecht's calling card in the 2024 draft was his shotmaking ability after he increased his three-point success rate every year he was in college, topping out at 39.7 percent on 6.5 attempts at Tennessee in 2023-24.

There's been no indication thus far that Knecht is going to become available in the next nine days before the trade deadline. B/R's Eric Pincus reported on Jan. 6 the Lakers have shown "no interest" in moving Knecht during the season.

Things could always change if the right player comes along. Knecht is an older rookie after playing three seasons in college, but he's got up to three more years on his rookie contract following the 2024-25 campaign.

Knecht's ability to develop his shooting touch while also showing some of the attacking style that made him such an effective college player will determine what his ultimate ceiling in the NBA is going to be.