The Lakeshow Review

With the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Tennessee swingman Dalton Knecht. The Lakers were fortunate to take Knecht at the 17 slot after he unexpectedly fell on draft day. He was projected to go much higher. Right off bat, during Summer League, Knecht showed good promise. He put up 21.3ppg, 5.3rpg and 2.3apg on 41% from the from the field and 39% from three. His perfomance during these exhibition games solidified the expectations he’d have going into his rookie season. Dalton’s first season in the NBA was a mixed bag. He showed some flashes, put up some big time performances, but on the other hand struggled with inconsistencies, mainly pertaining to his shooting and defense. He was unsuccessful in asserting himself into the everyday lineup due to those various deficiencies. But on the aggravate, he’s a talented shooter, which this team needs. He also possesses the functional athleticism to excel as a defender, an area that still requires some work. But you have to like Dalton’s overall profile, and the type of player that he projects to be. LA certainly shouldn’t be so eager to give him away.

Knecht finished the season with a respectable statline of 9.1ppg and 2.8rpg on 46%FG and 37.6%3PT. He played in 78 games (starting in 16 of them) and averaged about 19 minutes a night. His minutes were sporadic, and he wasn’t part of the rotation each game. Dalton’s rookie campaign got off to a rocky start, averaging just over 6 points on 38% from the field and 29% from three during his first 10 games. His defense also looked suspect at times, as he lacks the stance and technique where he can consistently put himself in good position. As a result, he has trouble staying in front of his man, something that persisted over the duration of the season. Over his next 9 games however, Dalton swiftly picked things up; averaging 19 points and 5 boards on 55% from the field and 52% from three during this stretch. This included a 37 point explosion against Utah, where he set the Lakers rookie record for most made three pointers in a game, totalling 9, and helping LA defeat the Jazz. During the ensuing road trip, his minutes would drop again, and he never quite found a consistent form. Lakers Head Coach JJ Redick wasn’t able to develop the sense of trust with Dalton, where he could simply pencil him in to the rotation on a nightly basis. Much of this was due to his poor defense, and to a lesser extent, his inconsistent shooting. To Dalton’s credit, he did finish the season on a high note. For the last month of the season (March plus a couple days of April), Dalton scored a robust 9.7ppg on 47%FG and 43%3PT over a span of 23 contests. He was, however, a -27 over the course of these such games, reinforcing the notion that perhaps he is still a one dimensional player at this point. His defense is not at the level where Redick can get away with playing him big minutes, which is why we did not see any Dalton Knecht during the Lakers’ playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

All things considered, I’m a fan of Dalton Knecht. I like the player that he has the potential to be. He also plays with an aggressive gunslinger’s mentality, which seems to be in short supply on this Lakers team. When Knecht has it going, he plays with a quick trigger and a quick conscience. He doesn’t seem to think much, he just executes and scores. This Lakers team needs guys that bring a hot-hand effect to the table every so often. However, in order to truly cement himself as a regular in the rotation, he badly needs to improve his defense. When his shot isn’t falling and the rims aren’t as friendly, defense is the one constant that will keep him on the floor. Fortunately, and despite his faults, I believe that Dalton does in fact possess the physical attributes to be at the very least a net neutral on defense (and if his offense keeps progressing then that’s a hell of a player). In fact, I believe Dalton can be an outright positive on the defensive end. It just comes down to how bad he wants it, and the quality of player development that he can get from the Lakers.

First off, Knecht is a rangy 6’6″ 213lbs forward/shooting guard hybrid. He has a very strong first-step, which is telling of someone who possesses a robust athletic profile. His offensive repertoire has shown tremendous upside thus far. If he can apply those tools on the defensive end the way he does on the offensive end, then I think that would spell a very good defender. One area of improvement is his defensive stance; if he can consistently get low and squared with his man, then he’ll have much more success. He often gets blown by or loses his man, as his high defensive stance negates much of his lateral quickness. This is an issue that persists in many budding on-ball defenders. His rotations could also use some work, as he more often than not finds himself out of position during closeouts or scrambling situations. All these things literally come down to work ethic, film study, coaching and reps. Perhaps he’ll never be Andre Kirilenko on defense. But I don’t see any reason as to why he shouldn’t be at the very least a Christian Braun/Grayson Allen/Tim Hardaway Jr. type. A solid, reliable two-way player, with some scoring upside. If Knecht can work his way up to becoming this player, he’ll have a great career in the NBA.

From a fit standpoint, Dalton Knecht is the type of player you want on this team. Especially if the Lakers eventually make Luka Dončić their franchise cornerstone via contract extension, then Knecht is precisely the type of player you want on a Dončić-led team. He does everything you need him to do; he’s an impressive vertical finisher, and can do so in traffic. He’s a great shooter who can shoot on the move or on catch and shoot situations. He’s got great instincts scoring off-ball, particularly coming off pin-downs, shooting in the mid-range as well as his ability to backdoor a wandering defender. He can create a bit off the dribble 1v1, and is also capable of scoring out of the pick and roll as an initiator (although his playmaking could definitely use some work). As an off-ball player in the pick and roll, he’s a perfect partner for someone like Luka. He knows when to drift and relocate for a spot-up shot, and is the type of shooter that you can position on the single side of ball screen in order to stretch a defense to its limit and keep them honest. Of course, he didn’t exactly do all of these things at an elite level. But he did show flashes in each department, and has been doing so since his days at Tennessee. I’d like to see the Lakers show some degree of commitment when developing young talents such as Dalton Knecht. He’s far from a finished product, but the upside is there and would compliment this team tremendously. I’d also like to see the Lakers show some restraint when trading away high-caliber young assets. Far often do we see the team trade away young players, before they hit their learning curve and blossom into valuable contributors. Julius Randle, Josh Hart, Ivica Zubac, and Alex Caruso are prime examples. This franchise has had a knack for hastily shedding assets in exchange for short-term gains. I’d like to see the organization shift their philosophy to something more sustainable and dependable.

It’s paramount for teams, particularly amidst the current CBA, to prioritize, young cost-controlled talent. It’s equally important for teams to successfully develop said young talent. It’s no longer feasible to win with a three-star model. Just look at the Phoenix Suns. The ultra-restrictive cap stipulations make it so that teams are compelled to value depth over star power. That’s where players like Dalton Knecht factor in to the equation. In order to maintain long-term sustainability and maximize a franchise’s window, that franchise must be committed to finding and developing young, talented players on team-friendly salary. That in turn makes the roster more robust around the margins. It’s these deep teams that are currently making noise in the postseason (OKC and Indiana come to mind). Many of the Lakers’ current team needs, namely shooting and bench scoring, Dalton is already capable of fulfilling. If they commit to his development, they will have an in-house answer to those issues. Internal growth and self sufficiency will be crucial for the Lakers moving forward. Without these qualities they’re back to being the impulsive organization that places short-term gain over long-term growth. If anything, developing Dalton Knecht will only increase his value around the NBA. Which could yield an even bigger payout in the future. Patience is the game moving forward. Something that the franchise has lacked, but must be able to summon in order to navigate the current landscape of hyper-competitive parity that is the Modern NBA.