The Thunder have already shown what a smart buy-low swing can look like, and that history is exactly why Dalton Knecht should be on their radar now.
Oklahoma City struck gold last season when it landed Jared McCain ahead of the February deadline, sending a low-value first and three future second-round picks to the 76ers. Thirty regular-season games, three playoff rounds, and a full offseason later, the result is clear: the Thunder were the winners in that deal.
That kind of success can change how a front office thinks. With one roster spot still open and another 2024 first-round talent reportedly slipping toward the edge of his current situation, Sam Presti could have reason to revisit the same kind of gamble.
Knecht is being viewed as the “odd man out” in Los Angeles as the Lakers work to trim their roster to the league’s maximum 15 players. The Tennessee product has not found steady footing across his first two seasons, and the numbers show the drop.
In year one, he played roughly 20 minutes per game and averaged 9.1 points and 2.8 boards on 37.6 percent shooting. In year two, that slid to 10.2 minutes a night, 4.2 points, 1.4 boards, and 34.2 percent shooting from deep.
His name has already surfaced in trade chatter before, most notably in the failed Mark Williams deal back in 2025. Now, after a rough sophomore year, his stock has taken a real hit, and the Lakers are believed to be strongly considering moving him before the 2026-27 campaign.
That should get teams talking. A young wing with a 3&D profile and first-round pedigree is the kind of player plenty of clubs will at least check on. Oklahoma City fits that group.
There are two clear reasons the Thunder could make sense here. The first is draft capital.
They have so much future ammo that they won’t even be able to use all of it themselves, and they’ve already shown a willingness to shuffle picks around in deals that push value farther down the line. A few selections from that stash would not be hard for them to part with if they believe in Knecht’s upside.
The second is the contract. Knecht is still on his rookie deal through the 2027-28 season, which matters more and more for a team with the payroll climbing fast. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren now on max deals, and Cason Wallace and Ajay Mitchell next in line, cheap help is becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity.
That’s why a player once labeled a “Do-it-all scorer from all areas” and carrying a $4.6 million AAV could make sense as a calculated swing. For a Thunder team with the resources to take the shot, Knecht looks like the kind of buy-low target worth at least a call.
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