​Trade rumors surrounding Los Angeles Lakers guard Dalton Knecht, the former Tennessee Volunteers standout, have swirled throughout the summer. The prevailing expectation is that Knecht will be dealt before the start of the 2026-27 NBA season. For reasons that remain unclear, Knecht fell out of favor with Lakers head coach JJ Redick last season, which led to his playing time being cut by roughly half. In response, the Lakers appeared to draft Baylor guard Cameron Carr, who began his college career at Tennessee, as a designated “replacement” for Knecht.
At this stage, Los Angeles seems to be waiting for the right deal to materialize, with one rumor even suggesting a potential trade sending Knecht to the Atlanta Hawks. As Knecht’s tenure in Los Angeles appears to be winding down, fans were surprised to see him sitting courtside at the Lakers’ Summer League game on Friday night. It’s not unusual to see Knecht at Lakers events while talks about a trade continue; he remains a Laker until a deal is finalized, and he maintains close friendships with current teammates and staff.
Still, the sight of Knecht at a Summer League game prompted questions from fans about why he isn’t playing in the summer showcase. The straightforward answer is simple: the Lakers want to protect his health and preserve his trade value, avoiding any unnecessary injuries that could complicate negotiations or reduce interest from other teams. As teams across the NBA work to finalize their rosters for the upcoming season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see movement involving Knecht in the coming weeks.
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