The Los Angeles Lakers are in the midst of a highly publicized pursuit of free agent forward Jonathan Kuminga. It's a rather polarizing endeavor, as Kuminga is an exceptionally talented player with known flaws that have led many to question the legitimacy of his fit.
If the Lakers' pursuit of a player who has their share of skill-related issues is a sign of things to come, however, then it appears to be too soon to write embattled wing Dalton Knecht off.
Knecht, 25, looked like a future key rotational cog during the early stages of his rookie season, but struggled mightily after Los Angeles traded for Luka Doncic. He ended up playing just 10.2 minutes per game during his second season, experiencing a sharp decline in three-point field goal percentage from 37.6 percent in 2024-25 to 34.2 percent in 2025-26.
Knecht also experienced a rather dramatic decline from 17.0 points per 36 minutes as a rookie to 14.8 as a sophomore.
For as alarming as those developments may be, the Lakers' interest in Kuminga isn't exactly gift wrapped with a history of success. Kuminga is a productive scorer, but he's a career 33.2 percent three-point shooter who has received criticism for the same issue as Knecht: Defensive inconsistency.
If the conversation about Kuminga revolves around the untapped potential that continues to make him an alluring figure, then Knecht should have a fighting chance for the same reasons.
Lakers' interest in Jonathan Kuminga is based on upside, overlooks flaws
It's become difficult to remember the days when Knecht looked the part of an exhilarating young player. It doesn't help, however, that he played at least 20 minutes in just five games during the entire 2025-26 season—hardly a sufficient sample size to gauge his abilities in a high-volume role.
2024-25 revealed how promising Knecht truly was, however, and the Lakers have reason to explore whether or not he can get back to that level—particularly if they're willing to give Kuminga a chance.
Knecht not only averaged 17.0 points per 36 minutes as a rookie, but did so on an efficient shooting line of .461/.376/.762. The 6'6" and 215-pound wing also shot at least 37.4 percent on both catch-and-shoot and pull-up threes, with solid volume in both regards.
If Knecht can get back to shooting and producing at that type of level, then there should absolutely be a place for him in the rotation.
Los Angeles needs shooters and scorers who can strengthen the second unit now that they're no longer a three-star team. It also needs players who can get out and run in transition, and while Knecht isn't known for his athleticism, he tested well at the combine and the film reflects why.
Knecht still needs to fix his defensive flaws and become more reliable as a shooter, but if Kuminga is being viewed as a potential starter, then Knecht should at least have a chance to secure minutes.
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