Draymond Green: voided trade left Dalton Knecht 'in purgatory' with Lakers

The Warriors veteran said the Lakers' rescinded Mark Williams deal derailed Dalton Knecht, who now stands as the likely cut before the 2026-27 season.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green has identified a single turning point in Dalton Knecht's faltering run with the Los Angeles Lakers: a trade that was agreed to and then called off. In Green's view, the guard has never recovered from the voided deal that would have sent him to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for center Mark Williams. The assessment arrives with Knecht entering the third season of his career and his hold on a roster spot in doubt.

The Lakers had a deal in place to acquire Williams from Charlotte, with Knecht included in the package heading to the Hornets. Los Angeles ultimately called off the move after Williams failed a physical related to his back, and Knecht stayed put. For Knecht, the failed transaction meant a return to a team that had just tried to move him.

Green laid out his position on the latest episode of his podcast, "The Draymond Green Show." He said Knecht had shown real early promise before the deal collapsed, only for the saga to stall his development. Knecht has been "in purgatory ever since," Green said, adding that "ultimately I think it ruined him."

The numbers trace the same arc. Before the trade was rescinded, Knecht was averaging 9.4 points in more than 20 minutes per game for Los Angeles. Over the 84 games that followed, his production dropped to 5.7 points on 12.5 minutes a night, and he spent long stretches outside the rotation entirely.

That fall is a stark contrast to his rookie year, when Knecht delivered a pair of 30-point performances and looked like a lasting piece of the Lakers' future. Some within the organization have since come to regard the former Tennessee standout as a case of promise that went unrealized.

The situation has grown more urgent because of a mandatory cut. Los Angeles must trim one player from its roster before the 2026-27 NBA regular season begins, and Knecht is widely viewed as the most likely release. Green's comments add a prominent voice to the belief that the guard's time with the franchise is nearing its end.

Training camp has not strengthened his case. Green noted that Jaden Hardy and Bronny James have both outplayed Knecht in camp, pushing the third-year guard further toward the edge of the roster. For a player already fighting to keep his spot, the competition has only raised the degree of difficulty.

A clean break could serve both the player and the team after his role and output dwindled. If the Lakers release him and Knecht reaches the open market, he is expected to draw interest from clubs seeking a reserve capable of scoring in quick bursts. His immediate future hinges on Los Angeles' final roster decision before the new campaign begins.