The 2024 NBA Draft is finally here and with the No. 17 overall pick, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Dalton Knecht from Tennessee. Coming into the offseason, one of the the major things the Lakers needed was consistent outside shooting. That's one of Knecht's strengths.
Coming into the NBA Draft, Dalton Knecht was considered by some to be a potential lottery pick and off the board by the time the Lakers selected at No. 17. Knecht was one of the top players in the country last season at Tennessee and a potential steal for the Lakers. He has the ability to contribute from day one.
Following the draft, Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said the team's front office viewed Knecht as a top ten pick as per Mark Medina of Sportskeeda.
“We would have never imagined a player as skilled and sort of perfect for our needs would be there for us,” Pelinka said. “We had him as a top ten player unanimously across our scouting boards.”
Knecht's journey to the NBA was an unconventional one. Coming out of high school he didn't have any offers to play Division 1 college basketball. He ended up going the junior college route and played two seasons at Northeastern Junior College. He transferred to Division 1 Northern Colorado where he played two seasons before transferring to Tennessee for his final year of college basketball eligibility.
During Knecht's lone season with the Volunteers, Knecht played in 36 games at a little over 30 minutes per game. He averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists with splits of 45.8 percent shooting from the field, 39.7 percent shooting from the three-point line and 77.2 percent shooting from the free-throw line.
Thought his college career, Knecht holds a career average of 38.3 percent shooting from the three-point line. The Lakers could use more consistent outside shooting on the roster and that's precisely what Knecht brings. At Tennessee he was adept at being able to come off screens and shoot off the catch. He was also able to navigate the defense with the ball in his hands and get himself shots.
Knecht obviously won't have the ball in his hands as much with the Lakers, and he'll probably get plenty of opportunities to work on his game in the G League, but he has an NBA ready game. It's possible the Knecht slipped in the draft due to his age. Older college players aren't taken with regularity high in the draft.
If that was the case, then every team other team's loss is the Lakers gain. Each season a player slips in the draft and it appears as if Knecht was that player. He got drafted to a perfect situation with the opportunity for minutes from the get-go.
Final Draft Grade: A
Lakers usher in a new era
With Dalton Knecht coming to the Lakers via the NBA Draft, the JJ Redick era is officially under way. Drafting Knecht was the first move for Redick's tenure as head coach.
Following a lengthy search for a new head coach, a search that included UConn's Dan Hurley and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Micah Nori, the Lakers settled on Redick to lead the team.
The Lakers still have a second round pick at No. 55 and they are widely expected to use that pick on Bronny James if he is still on board at that time. Once the draft is in the rearview, the Lakers attention will turn to NBA free agency and putting together a contending team for Redick.
LeBron James is most likely going to opt out of his contract, but that doesn't mean that he will leave the Lakers. It's likely a precursor to signing a long-term deal with the Lakers for the remainder of his career.
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