Dalton Knecht has long been a favorite among Los Angeles Lakers fans. Performances like his Summer League debut will leave many of those people worrying about his future with the team.
Reports of JJ Redick working closely together with Knecht caught the attention of Lakers fans everywhere of late. Last year's rookie even talked about the importance of showcasing himself in the Summer League. His rough start at the California Classic did not reflect either of those things.
Knecht finished the game with 10 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block. The Lakers marksman looked like anything but that, shooting 3-of-13 from the field and a woeful 0-of-6 from beyond the 3-point line.
It is also notable that Knecht finished with a team-worst -13 in the Lakers' 89-84 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Games like this one will certainly not sway Rob Pelinka into an added desire to keep him around. However, it may dissuade opposing general managers from being as eager to trade for him. Perhaps this was 4D chess on Knecht's part.
Summer League struggles cause concern for Lakers before admitting the obvious
The part of this performance that causes disappointment is the lack of players on the opposing side who should have presented a legitimate challenge for Knecht. The Lakers sharpshooter was a regular rotational player in the NBA in 2024-25. That much cannot be said of anyone who saw minutes for the Warriors on Saturday.
Basketball players love saying 'there's levels to this s***.' That did not look like the case here for the former first-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Knecht should have been head and shoulders clear of every other player on the court tonight. That, obviously, was not what happened.
In all fairness, all players can be afforded an off shooting night. Knecht is no exception from falling victim to a bad game. It can be doubly acceptable considering it is only the first contest of the summer for the soon-to-be sophomore Laker.
Summer League will never be the greatest evaluator of talent. There have been many darlings of the competition that just never made a real impact in the actual NBA itself.
Even so, the Lakers and their fans are watching Knecht closely for signs of growth and development. Those taking the time out of their days to tune into this one were left greatly disappointed.