Overview

• The Athletic’s Dan Woike reported that some scouts now view Knecht as a negative asset, indicating the Lakers might need to attach incentives to move him in a trade.
• Knecht shot 2-of-10 in the preseason opener vs. the Suns and 3-of-11 against the Warriors, performances cited in gloomy assessments of his value.
• JJ Redick stressed improvements in defense, boxing out, crashing, sprinting back, and on-court communication as requirements for Knecht to impact winning.
• Redick also noted an “unbelievable” three-day offensive stretch in recent practices, expressing confidence in Knecht’s scoring upside when he plays assertively.
• Context includes a rescinded 2025 trade to Charlotte for Mark Williams and new veteran additions such as Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, with some evaluators suggesting Los Angeles would not recoup No. 17–pick value and might only fetch second-rounders.