Former Tennessee Vols standout Dalton Knecht is in a tough place with one of the greatest sports franchises ever.

What seemed like an exciting opportunity with the Los Angeles Lakers, who drafted him in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, has devolved into a waiting game for when he can finally be freed from what’s become a basketball jail for him.

Knecht has been in basketball purgatory since the Lakers attempted to trade him to Charlotte back in February 2025 for center Mark Williams, which was nullified at the eleventh hour due to a failed physical by Williams. Since then, his role has remained minimal for the Lakers.

However, Knecht has gotten some late minutes in April, and when he’s been handed them by coach JJ Redick, he’s actually managed to do well on the offensive end. We saw that back on April 12. In 12 minutes, Knecht made 6 of 9 shots, including 5 of 6 from three, for 17 points.

And on Sunday night during the fourth quarter of the Lakers’ blowout Game 4 loss to the Houston Rockets in their first round series, Knecht got the nod off the bench for the first time in the series.

Knecht scores 8 points in 7 and a half minutes with two threes late in Lakers’ Game 4 loss to Rockets

And he did what he’s been doing lately: score. Knecht knocked down two of three three point attempts and added three rebounds over 7:25 in the fourth quarter. Going back to April 7, Knecht has made 9 of his 12 three point attempts for a silly 75% rate.

It’s clear that Knecht was in the game as mop up duty, as the score was 100-80 Houston when he made his first three. But each tiny opportunity that Knecht has gotten, he continues to remind teams watching that he is still a prolific scorer with a terrific touch from beyond the arc.

Clearly the Lakers aren’t interested in that talent, but perhaps someone this offseason will decide to take him off Redick’s hands. That would be in the best interests of everyone involved.