Lakers Land Duke Star in Proposed Dalton Knecht Trade Ahead of 2025 NBA Draft

Los Angeles Lakers 2024 first-round pick Dalton Knecht had a promising rookie season in L.A., but things shifted dramatically after he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams at the trade deadline—a deal that was later rescinded. Knecht saw little to no playing time in the NBA playoffs, and his performance noticeably dipped in the second half of the season compared to the first. With the Lakers currently holding only the No. 55 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, any move to trade up would likely require Knecht to be included in the deal.