Magic Johnson Weighs in on the Lakers' First Round Pick
The Los Angeles Lakers are trying to climb back to the mountaintop after last winning the NBA championship in 2020. Over the last two years, the Denver Nuggets have eliminated the Lakers in the playoffs.
They know this offseason is critical for the team and they need to ace all their moves. Round one of the 2024 NBA Draft took place on Wednesday and the Lakers took Dalton Knecht with the 17th overall pick.
Laker great Magic Johnson went on X to give his opinion on the selection.
Lakers News: Magic Johnson Loves the Lakers Selection of Dalton Knecht
Laker Nation, outstanding pick last night by our Lakers selecting Dalton Knecht - I love it! Dalton is just what the Lakers need, a deadly 3-point shooter/scorer who is physically tough and has swag. He also played for a winning program and really good college coach at Tennessee,…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) June 27, 2024
Johnson was a big fan of the Lakers pick, as were most people.
"Laker Nation, outstanding pick last night by our Lakers selecting Dalton Knecht - I love it! Dalton is just what the Lakers need, a deadly 3-point shooter/scorer who is physically tough and has swag. He also played for a winning program and really good college coach at Tennessee, Rick Barnes! Dalton is a guy that has a chance to start or play a lot off the bench."
- Magic Johnson
The 64-year-old hit the nail on the head with his comments on Knecht's play style and the impact he can have.
The Lakers badly needed some athleticism and sharpshooting in the frontcourt. Knecht was a pure-scoring wing in college. He has a soft touch from all three levels but also has the bounce to rise high for slams at the rack.
During the 2023-24 season with Tennessee, Knecht averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and shot 39% from downtown.
The 23-year-old will certainly make an impact as a rookie due to a polished offensive game. This pick seems like a home run and Lakers legend Magic Johnson agrees.
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