Lakers' controversial roster decision a vote of confidence in Dalton Knecht

The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing to enter the 2024-25 NBA season with the essential intention to improve from beyond the arc. It's a crucial goal for Los Angeles, which failed to both shoot and defend the long ball with consistency in 2023-24.

A recent roster decision has unfortunately derailed an expected manner in which the Lakers planned to improve long-term, but it also acts as a ringing endorsement of Dalton Knecht.

Los Angeles has invested heavily in young players who can develop into high-level shooters, starting with the selection of Knecht at No. 17 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft. It continued when it added undrafted free agent Blake Hinson to a two-way contract.

Unfortunately, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that the Lakers have parted ways with Hinson to clear space for the signing of center Christian Koloko to a two-way contract of his own.

Hinson was likely to spend the 2024-25 season in the G League with the South Bay Lakers, but his NBA upside was undeniably intriguing as a sharpshooting wing.

Blake Hinson out, elevated expectations for Dalton Knecht in

Even as a G League player, Hinson looked the part of a potentially valuable rotational asset in the NBA. At 6'8" with a lights-out jump shot, the path for him from South Bay to Los Angeles was one that many fans had already begun to chart.

Los Angeles appears satisfied with the options it has as far as three-point shooting is concerned, however, with Knecht seeming to emerge as the favorite to justify that decision.

The Lakers have a strong cast of capable shooters, including Rui Hachimura, LeBron James, and D'Angelo Russell. The absence from the rotation, however, is a player who specializes in working without the ball, thus placing less pressure on isolation playmakers to create for their teammates.

Hinson seemed to check that box, but it's arguable that Knecht made him redundant with his own ability to fulfill that crucial role.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick has been advising Knecht to work on his off-ball offense during the offseason. It appears as though enough progress has been made to warrant the decision to part with Hinson and prioritize a different area of weakness in Los Angeles' interior defense.

If that proves to be the case, then fans can expect Knecht to receive significant playing time during his first NBA season.

Knecht shot the lights out during his final collegiate season, ranking No. 8 in the country at 21.7 points per game while converting 39.7 percent of his 6.5 three-point field goal attempts per game. He ranked No. 3 in the SEC in three-point field goals made per game and buried at least five shots from distance on six different occasions.

A G League roster decision rarely has NBA roster implications, but the decision to waive Hinson is a rare exception that speaks to Knecht's value to the Lakers in 2024-25 and beyond.