With team-friendly contracts soon to expire, the Lakers need to add cost-efficient up-and-coming talent.
The Los Angeles Lakers need to make a decision before the 2026 NBA trade deadline about how they value Dalton Knecht. If they find him to be an essential piece of the puzzle, then playing time must be provided to their most productive up-and-coming player.
In the event that Knecht is phased out of the rotation, however, he must be replaced by another up-and-coming talent in the most important trade the Lakers can make this season.