The Los Angeles Lakers have finally embraced the need to build for the future while prioritizing the present. Those paths have crossed in a number of ways early in 2024-25, including Anthony Davis becoming the offensive focal point and Austin Reaves emerging as a go-to shot creator and facilitator.
A process that's taking place at a slower, yet equally as significant pace is one that could see Dalton Knecht emerge as the team's first draft-night success story in nearly a decade.
Los Angeles selected Knecht at No. 17 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft and have been bringing him along slowly as a potentially essential contributor. In just 11 games, he's already displayed his ability to get hot and all but take over portions of a game.
That reached new heights when he scored a career-high 19 points during the Lakers' 128-123 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 13.
Knecht was valuable in every phase of the game, complementing his 19 points with three assists, two rebounds, and one steal. He shot 7-of-8 from the field and buried all five of his three-point field goal attempts in a 31-minute heat check of a performance.
It was the third time in 11 games that the rookie has eclipsed 10 points, as well as the first game during which he played at least 30 minutes.
Dalton Knecht is too valuable for inconsistent Lakers minutes
Knecht has experienced his share of ups and downs from the perspective of the minutes made available to him. It took 11 games for him to reach 30 minutes in a single outing, and he's thus far seen the court for more than 20 minutes just four times.
The consistent theme when playing time has been given to him, however, is that he's taken the opportunity in stride and turned in high-level performances.
Knecht scored a then career-high 10 points the first time he received 20 minutes—and the Lakers won 131-127 over the Sacramento Kings. Two games later, he was one of the lone highlights of a brutal 134-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, dropping a new career-high of 18 points in 27 minutes.
Knecht shot just 1-of-7 in 27 minutes during a 131-114 loss to the Grizzlies on Nov. 6, but redeemed himself with the aforementioned 19 points in 31 minutes against Memphis on Nov. 13.
Los Angeles is now 6-2 when Knecht plays at least 15 minutes and 1-2 when he doesn't. The Lakers are outscoing opponents by a team-high 8.8 points per 100 possessions when he's on the court and are being outscored by 6.6 points per 100 possessions when he isn't—a 15.4-point swing.
The team is also posting its best offensive rating at 123.7 and its third-best defensive rating at 114.9 when Knecht is on the court.
It's understandable for the Lakers to be somewhat cautious with his early development, especially as they balance the goal of winning as many games as possible with long-term aspirations. What's become abundantly clear, however, is that his presence on the court leads directly to winning results.
With long-term upside and short-term value, it's become impossible to deny that Knecht should have a steady and significant role in the Lakers' rotation.