Time For The Lakers To Reverse Their Dalton Knecht Decision

The Los Angeles Lakers selected Dalton Knecht with the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft made the decision to play him in meaningful minutes immediately. The sharpshooter was a surprising steal, with even LeBron James acknowledging his disbelief: “I did not think he was going to fall to us.”

Time For The Lakers To Reverse Their Dalton Knecht Decision

Knecht’s Hot Start

Knecht delivered early. Under the guidance of coach J.J. Redick, who hailed him as being in the “1% of shooters,” Knecht shone in his first month. The Lakers started the season 10-4, with Knecht at the center of their offensive surge.

In November, he shot an outstanding 46.0% from three-point range, contributing to a shooting split of 50.7/46.0/83.3 in just 21.3 minutes per game. His standout performance came against the Utah Jazz, where he scored 37 points and tied a rookie record with nine three-pointers on just three dribbles.

The Rookie Wall Hits Hard

As December began, Knecht’s shooting fell apart. His three-point percentage plummeted to 15.6%, and his attempts dropped from 6.2 per game to 3.5. His confidence disappeared, and he often hesitated to shoot.

Without his sharpshooting, Knecht’s defensive struggles became glaring. The rookie looked lost on offense and ineffective on defense. The Lakers, who have the NBA’s second-worst bench scoring, desperately need his shooting to compete.

LeBron recently addressed the team’s urgency: “We don’t have a choice…we have to play close-to-perfect basketball.” The Lakers’ roster construction leaves no margin for error, making Knecht’s struggles more impactful.

The G-League Solution

The Lakers need to send Knecht to the South Bay Lakers. A stint in the G-League can help him regain his confidence. Teams regularly use this approach to develop rookies.

Max Christie, now a starter for the Lakers, spent significant time in the G-League before breaking into the rotation. During the LeBron era, rookies don’t usually get much playing time. Infact, only two rookies have averaged more than 20 minutes per game during this era: Knecht and Austin Reaves.

Other teams have seen success with this method. The Houston Rockets sent Reed Sheppard, the third pick in the 2024 Draft, to their G-League affiliate. In limited NBA minutes, Sheppard has posted poor shooting splits of 31.5/27.4/83.3. However, he thrived in the G-League, averaging 30.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 2.7 steals on 46.3/40.5/100 splits in three games.

Sheppard’s shooting hasn’t yet translated to the NBA due to limited opportunities. He has played just a little over 11 minutes of action. However, Knecht’s situation with the Lakers offers more potential minutes upon his return.

Why Knecht Needs This Move

The Lakers cannot afford to let Knecht’s confidence and development stagnate. With a roster built around LeBron and Anthony Davis, the team needs every piece to fit. Knecht’s shooting is critical to their success.

A G-League stint offers Knecht a low-pressure environment to rebuild his confidence and rediscover his shooting form. Without the bright lights of Los Angeles and the pressure of contributing to a contender, he can focus on growth.

A Chance for Redemption for Dalton Knecht Away From the Lakers

Knecht has already shown he can thrive at the NBA level. A temporary move to the South Bay Lakers can help him regain his early-season form. Once he finds his rhythm, he can return to the Lakers ready to contribute.

The Lakers cannot wait for Knecht to break out of this slump on his own. They have tried this for the past month with little success. Sending him to the G-League is the best decision for his development and the team’s success.