The NBA season is officially here. Teams have kicked off training camp this week, with the Los Angeles Lakers preparing to play their first preseason game against the Suns on Friday. The six preseason games in three weeks will give head coach JJ Redick a clearer picture of the rotation and how he wants to play. It will also be one of the last opportunities for a few Lakers to prove their worth and earn a role.
Among the names who are firmly on thin ice to start the season is Dalton Knecht. L.A.'s first-round pick from a season ago has failed to establish his NBA career so far, and unless he shows significantly more in his second season than he did as a rookie and in the Summer League, it's hard to see Knecht returning for another training camp with the team.
Dalton Knecht Has an Uphill Battle for Proving His Worth
On paper, Knecht's path to playing time is simple: hit enough shots so that Redick can look past your defensive shortcomings. For a shooter like Knecht, playing next to the three-headed monster of Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves is as good a situation as there can be in the NBA. Knecht will consistently get quality three-point looks and should benefit from the attention defenses put on the elite on-ball creators. Considering how the Lakers lack elite shooters, Knecht will get his chances.
Unfortunately, however, he has not done anything so far to prove that he is up to the challenge. He was a fine shooter as a rookie — 37.6% from downtown — but that is not nearly good enough for a player who does little else on the floor. His Summer League in Las Vegas was a complete disaster as he couldn't put the ball in the basket despite extended opportunities.
If Knecht were a very young player early in his development, the Lakers could easily convince themselves to be patient with him. Yet, the former Tennessee standout was one of the oldest players to be drafted last year, and he is already nearly 25 years old. The Lakers are not in development mode, but rather are looking to win a championship in the present, meaning it's now or never for him to prove himself.
That is why general manager Rob Pelinka will almost certainly look to trade Knecht as soon as possible, especially if he wants to finalize Redick's lineup before the regular season.
If Knecht picks up where he left off in the Summer League, his trade value will only continue to tank. That's why the Lakers would be wise to move on from him in the coming weeks, potentially by attaching draft capital and matching salary for more shooting and defense in return.