The NBA Draft class of 2024 was somewhat underwhelming for the Los Angeles Lakers. Neither of their rookies made much of an impact in JJ Redick's first year, although both of them showed signs of promise.
However, while Bronny James showed signs of improvement in the Las Vegas Summer League, the entire opposite can be said of Dalton Knecht.
The sharpshooter out of Tennessee closed out last season on a subpar note, perhaps because of his failed trade to the Charlotte Hornets. That's why Coach Redick won't be able to trust him until further notice.
Dalton Knecht Needs to Get His Groove Back
Knecht averaged 10.3 points per game on 27.9 percent from the floor in the Summer League. That's especially worrisome if you consider that second-year players usually make the most of the extended Summer League run to dominate and show their improvement between seasons.
Also, Knecht spent more time in college than the average rookie, and he's 24 years old already. This is a make-or-miss league, and given his defensive limitations, there's no reason to get him on the court if his shot isn't falling.
There was a time when it looked like Knecht wasn't only the most NBA-ready player in his class but also one of the biggest steals of the draft. He averaged 13.6 points per game on 50.7 percent shooting in November, scoring double-digits in five consecutive games and even exploding for 27 and 37 points.
Then, he hit a rookie wall, but his trade fiasco may have been when things truly fell apart for him. He was traded to the Charlotte Hornets at the deadline in a deal that was supposed to send Mark Williams to the Lakers.
It's hard to regain confidence after that, knowing that the team was ready to move on from you. He knew he wasn't a part of the team's plans for the future, and losing trust in the organization and the coaching staff may have taken a toll on his game.
As a former sharpshooter himself, Coach Redick should know how to use and motivate the Tennessee product ahead of his second season. The problem, however, is that the Lakers can't afford to wait for him to figure things out.
Now, with Luka Doncic also in the picture and Austin Reaves unlikely to go anywhere, Knecht has become a bit of a redundat commodity.