Dalton Knecht’s Vanishing Role: A Missed Opportunity the Lakers May Come to Regret
There’s a human element to life in the NBA-JJ Redick, now head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, has said as much himself. The bright lights, big contracts, and global fame can make it easy to forget that players ride the same emotional highs and lows as anyone else. For the Lakers, no one has embodied that reality more over the past two seasons than Dalton Knecht.
And if things don’t change soon, the Lakers may find themselves looking back at Knecht not as a developmental win, but as a wasted opportunity.
From Draft Night Steal to Forgotten Man
It wasn’t long ago that the Lakers were lauded for landing Knecht with the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The Tennessee standout had just wrapped up a breakout collegiate season and was widely projected as a top-10 pick.
When he slid outside the lottery, Los Angeles pounced. It felt like a steal-and for a while, it looked like one too.
Knecht wasted no time making an impression. A 37-point outburst early in the season put him squarely in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
Through his first two months, he averaged 12.2 points per game while shooting an eye-popping .497 from the field, .439 from deep, and .889 from the free-throw line. For a rookie, those are elite efficiency numbers-especially for a player adjusting to NBA pace and spacing.
But then came the Luka Doncic trade. And with it, a shift in the Lakers’ rotation that left Knecht on the outside looking in.
The Luka Effect-and the Fallout
There’s no question that adding a player of Doncic’s caliber changes the calculus. With Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves all commanding major minutes-and all needing the ball in their hands-there was less room for another perimeter scorer. Factor in Knecht’s defensive limitations, and Redick faced a tough call.
Still, the Lakers’ inability to carve out any consistent role for Knecht is hard to justify. Even in limited minutes, he showed he can score at all three levels and thrive off the ball-traits that should be valuable alongside high-usage stars. Instead, he’s become a rotation afterthought, a player with clear offensive talent who’s been given little room to grow.
The issue isn’t just about minutes-it’s about development. Knecht’s rookie deal runs four years, and in a league where affordable production is gold, the Lakers are sitting on a potential asset and doing little with it.
Depth Wins in Today’s NBA-and the Lakers Are Falling Behind
This isn’t just about Dalton Knecht. It’s about the bigger picture in Los Angeles.
The Lakers don’t have a single young player in a prominent, consistent role right now. And in today’s NBA, where depth and cost-controlled talent are often the difference between contenders and pretenders, that’s a problem.
Austin Reaves was the blueprint. An undrafted find who developed into a key contributor, his growth gave the Lakers flexibility.
But Reaves turns 28 in May and is expected to command upwards of $30 million annually this summer. That kind of deal changes the math.
And without another Reaves-type waiting in the wings, the Lakers’ margin for error shrinks.
Jake LaRavia has carved out a role under Redick, but he’ll hit unrestricted free agency at the end of next season. Adou Thiero and Bronny James are intriguing prospects, but they’re barely seeing the floor-averaging 5.8 and 6.9 minutes per game, respectively.
And the draft cupboard is nearly bare. The Lakers don’t have first-round picks in 2027 or 2029, having already dealt away several in recent years.
The players selected with those picks-Dyson Daniels, De’Andre Hunter, Jaden McDaniels-are all contributors elsewhere. That’s the kind of talent pipeline L.A. is missing.
A Costly Mistake in the Making?
Knecht may not be a future All-Star. But he’s already proven he can score efficiently, space the floor, and play within an offense. That’s more than enough to warrant a real opportunity-especially for a team that desperately needs young legs and affordable upside.
Instead, the Lakers have taken a player with real potential and turned him into a non-factor. In a league that rewards teams who develop from within, that’s a costly oversight.
If Los Angeles doesn’t find a way to reintegrate Knecht-or at least showcase him for future value-they may look back on this stretch as a missed window. Not just for a single player, but for a franchise that’s struggled to build sustainable depth around its stars.
And in the NBA, where the margins are razor-thin, that kind of mistake can haunt a team for years.