The Los Angeles Lakers have a decision to make that will define the trajectory of the 2024-25 regular season. With Rui Hachimura nearing a return from injury and Dalton Knecht entering the Rookie of the Year discussion, first-year head coach JJ Redick must figure out what his starting lineup will become.
Redick seems to have landed on the preferred path forward, but his decision says more about the current state of the Lakers than meets the eye.
Hachimura has missed the past four games with a sprained ankle. During that time, Knecht has become the talk of Los Angeles, erupting for a series of scoring performances that have caused many outside of the organization to question the Lakers' ideal starting lineup.
When asked if a healthy Hachimura will replace Knecht in the starting five, Redick made it clear that he hasn't made a final decision, but understands the importance of providing both with significant minutes.
Here's JJ Redick's full quote on if he will consider keeping Dalton Knecht in the starting lineup long term when Rui Hachimura returns: pic.twitter.com/9oJU6ghPj8
— Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand) November 22, 2024
It's a diplomatic response that shows how seriously Redick takes the matter of finding a place for two of his most important players, but it also reveals an unfortunate truth facing the Lakers.
Lakers weighing options for Rui Hachimura, Dalton Knecht and starting 5
Hachimura has been a revelation for the Lakers in 2024-25, setting the tone with his energy and intensity early in games. He's taken a clear step forward as an offensive rebounder, continues to shoot efficiently, and provides essential value as a big-body forward who can defend at a respectable level.
The unfortunate reality facing the Lakers, however, is that there wouldn't be any question about starting Knecht if the team could trust its current starters to excel on defense.
Being without Jarred Vanderbilt for the entirety of the 2024-25 regular season thus far has been brutal, although Cam Reddish deserves credit for stepping up in his place. If Hachimura lives up to his full potential, however, that would include his emergence as a wing-stopper on defense—thus filling the void.
If that were to transpire, and fellow starters LeBron James and Austin Reaves were to provide reliable contributions on defense, then starting Knecht would be an obvious choice.
Knecht is the best wing shooter on the team, possessing the size, athleticism, release point, and fearlessness to help fill an essential role. His ability to work without the ball and find space takes a significant amount of pressure off of Anthony Davis, James, and Reaves as shot creators and playmakers alike.
Knecht has made progress on defense, but due to the concerns about his consistency, the question beckons: Can the Lakers trust Hachimura to step up on defense the way Reddish has?
At this stage, the unfortunate answer appears to be no—and thus, Redick's current conundrum. He could start both Hachimura and Knecht, thus bumping Reddish and, long-term, Vanderbilt to the second unit, but the impact on Los Angeles' defense could be exceedingly negative—and the team already ranks No. 26 in defensive rating.
If the decision ultimately comes down to Hachimura or Knecht, the simple, yet painfully complex question will define the immediate future: Is Hachimura a more valuable fit than Knecht with the starting five?