Lakers' Dalton Knecht Reportedly Open to 'Fresh Start,' Who Are Top Landing Spots amid Trade Rumors?

Having been phased out of Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick's rotation over the past two weeks, Dalton Knecht would not be opposed to playing for a new team ahead of Thursday's trade deadline.

Per The Athletic's Dan Woike, Knecht is open to a "fresh start" if the Lakers can find a team interested in making a deal.

Knecht entered the league regarded for his shooting prowess. There are plenty of playoff contenders out there that need three-point shooting help, but given his defensive limitations and struggles this season, he might be more appealing to rebuilding clubs that have minutes to offer.

One contending team that stands out as a potential landing spot is the San Antonio Spurs. Non-contenders like the Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks could also make sense for someone like Knecht.

Woike noted that if the Lakers are able to find a suitor for Knecht, the return for Los Angeles in a trade would likely be "very low."

Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times recently noted that Knecht is receiving "little interest" from opposing clubs in a potential trade, so it seems like a long shot that any deal materializes.

Knecht was close to being traded to the Charlotte Hornets last season in a deal for Mark Williams, but the Lakers rescinded the move before it went through due to concerns about Williams' long-term durability after a physical.

That was at a time when Knecht's stock seemed much higher than it is right now. He shot 37.6 percent from three in 78 appearances as a rookie, compared to 31.3 percent in 40 appearances so far this season.

If a team believes that those rookie numbers are much closer to Knecht's actual skill set than what he has done this season, there could be value in adding him to a rotation.

The Spurs (33-16) have the second-best record in the Western Conference despite being tied for 23rd in three-point percentage (34.6). They can get away with having a poor defender on the court because Victor Wembanyama covers a lot of ground with his size and agility.

Dallas isn't a great landing spot for Knecht because he is basically a less-accomplished version of what Klay Thompson provides. But Thompson has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate leading up to Thursday's deadline.

Even if Thompson doesn't get moved by Thursday afternoon, it wouldn't be a surprise if he gets traded in the offseason. The Mavs will need to find ways to replace his shooting production and upgrade their offense, which Knecht could do without jeopardizing their long-term future.

The Pacers have Tyrese Haliburton coming back from a torn Achilles next season, so exploring a low-risk trade opportunity for a quality shooter who can take advantage of open looks given how much attention their star point guard commands would be smart business.

Knecht doesn't seem like he is going to be long for Los Angeles. He has played a total of 28 minutes in his last seven games, a stretch that also includes four games in which he did not play.

It's not great business if the Lakers have to sell low on a player they used the No. 17 overall pick on in the 2024 draft, but if they can get anything for him based on how low he appears to be on the totem pole right now, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take it.