Lakers offseason report card: Revisiting 2024 NBA Draft one month later
The 2024 offseason has been rather quiet around the NBA, with no team doing less than the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers have been involved in endless trade and free agency rumors, but as each fails to materialize, the fanbase's impatience is becoming palpable.
As free agency and trade rumors continue to trickle in without the followthrough to shake up the roster, only one event has thus far produced roster improvement: The 2024 NBA Draft.
Despite their shortcomings in free agency, the Lakers actually pulled off quite a haul at and directly after the NBA Draft. It may not ultimately pan out, but the fact that Los Angeles valued up-and-coming players and the resources it had to acquire them was a positive sign.
Some of the moves look better on paper than others, but there's something to be said about the Lakers finally embracing the value of rookie-scale contracts and developable talent.
That all began with the biggest steal of the draft.
Round 1, Pick 17: Dalton Knecht, F, Tennessee Volunteers
Going into the 2024 NBA Draft, few expected Dalton Knecht to be available at No. 17 overall. The Tennessee Volunteers star was an all but unanimously projected top-10 pick, with the size, three-level scoring ability, and three-point shooting range to perfectly transition to the modern NBA era.
Instead, Knecht fell right into the Lakers' lap, and general manager Rob Pelinka made the easiest decision of the summer thus far.
A. A+. . . Lakers draft Dalton Knecht at No. 17
Knecht won the 2023-24 SEC Player of the Year award and guided Tennessee to its best season in nearly 15 years. He averaged 21.7 points and 2.6 three-point field goals made per game, posting a slash line of .458/.397/.772 and showing just as much comfort in the paint as he did beyond the arc.
Knecht also led Tennessee to 27 wins and its first Elite Eight appearance since 2010.
Knecht now comes to Los Angeles at a time when head coach JJ Redick is hoping to revamp the offense. Redick is looking to create more points of entry by adding playmakers and shot creators along the perimeter, and improve the team's three-point shooting.
That plays right into Knecht's hand as a well-rounded scorer who can attack off the bounce, move without the ball, and shoot with NBA range. This was a perfect low-risk, high-reward selection just outside of the lottery range.
The biggest steal of the 2024 NBA Draft.