The Los Angeles Lakers took Dalton Knecht with the 17th overall pick in the 2024 draft, but the second-year wing is struggling to make an impact. Head coach JJ Redick just reinserted him into the rotation, and the 6'6 wing responded by going scoreless in 10.8 minutes of action. His playing time and production are down in year two. Knecht hasn’t been the same player since the rescinded trade, and his time with the Lakers may be dwindling.
He is averaging 5.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per game this season. Knecht struggles defensively and must make up for that with a strong offensive game. The 6’6 wing is shooting 46.7 percent from the field and 34.8 percent on his threes, but it is not enough. He has a negative-0.1 value over replacement player (VORP) and is not impacting winning.
The 24-year-old is in a difficult position. He is an offense-first player on a team with three high usage stars. The Lakers want to contend for championships and shouldn’t be taking the ball out of Luka Doncic's or LeBron James' hands to give it to Knecht. This draft pick is doomed, and the Lakers' best bet may be repeating history.
Dalton Knecht is struggling in year two
The Lakers have lost Knecht’s 356 minutes by 48 points this season. There has been plenty of garbage time, but LA has a negative-6.2 net rating in his minutes and is 8.0 points per 100 possessions better when the 6'6 wing is on the bench.
The Luka trade added even more pressure to contend. Doncic led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024. He is a superstar in his prime. The Lakers must build a contending roster around him as soon as possible, especially if they plan to keep him in Los Angeles for the remainder of his career.
It is difficult to see the fit with Knecht next to Doncic. Both are offense-first players who struggle defensively. The Lakers must put floor spacers and defenders around number 77. That is not Knecht, which could put him firmly on the trade block before the Feb. 5 deadline.
It is fair to question if Knecht gets a second NBA contract at this stage. He was an older rookie with well-documented defensive issues coming out of college. The 6’6 wing must be a dynamic offensive weapon to make up for that. Lakers fans know he has been far from that and has struggled to even get on the floor this season.
Knecht is getting another opportunity in the rotation, but the first return further underscored the problem. Without plays being run for him, the 24-year-old is a non-factor. Contending teams draft older players, so they can immediately jump into the rotation and contribute. For Knecht, the only hope may be a change of scenery.
Rob Pelinka’s track record in the draft deserves criticism. The Los Angeles Lakers signed an undrafted Austin Reaves during his tenure, but have missed on several draft picks. Dalton Knecht appears to be the latest, and the franchise would be wise to maximize his value in any way possible. Sadly, things just aren’t going to work.