The Los Angeles Lakers are facing a critical roster decision this offseason, and one NBA analyst believes the path forward is clear: it's time to part ways with struggling guard Dalton Knecht.

According to Lake Show Life's Svyatoslav Rovenchuk, the second-year player—who reportedly requested a trade before the February deadline—has become dead weight the Lakers can no longer afford to carry. "Dalton Knecht is someone who has overstayed his welcome in Los Angeles," Rovenchuk wrote. "The wheels really began to fall off for Knecht after the infamous Mark Williams trade that never was."

The 25-year-old guard, who signed an $18 million contract, has struggled to find his footing in Year 2. After a promising start, Knecht's production has steadily declined, leaving him unable to secure a consistent spot in head coach JJ Redick's rotation. "Knecht has been somewhat miscast on the Lakers," Rovenchuk explained. "The former first-round pick operates best as a scorer, rather than an off-ball shooter."

The writing was on the wall back in January, when ClutchPoints' Anthony Irwin reported that Knecht approached the Lakers' front office requesting a trade before the Feb. 5 deadline. Unfortunately for both sides, Los Angeles failed to find a suitable trade partner—leaving an awkward situation that has only worsened with time.

Knecht's numbers tell the story of a player who has lost his way. In his second season with the Lakers, he averaged just 4.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.3 assists, shooting 45.5% from the field and 34.2% from beyond the arc. While his three-point shooting showed flashes, his one-dimensional offensive game and lackluster defense forced Redick to reduce his minutes significantly.

For a Lakers team looking to contend, holding onto a player who has publicly expressed a desire to leave—and who hasn't lived up to expectations—makes little sense. As Rovenchuk put it: "Whether it be for a couple of second-rounders, or a different buy-low player, this should be the offseason in which the 25-year-old finally puts on new threads."

The Lakers have been here before, needing to trim the fat from their roster to build a more cohesive unit around their stars. This summer, moving on from Knecht could be the first step in that direction—giving both the player and the franchise the fresh start they desperately need.