Dalton Knecht turned himself into a household name on the college scene in his last year with Tennessee. In a draft that was considered “weak” when it came to domestic prospects, a recognizable figure like Knecht was sure to stand out. So when the big-brand Los Angeles Lakers selected him with the 14th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, headlines were sure to follow.
To this point, he’s overperformed his draft position. But that’s not the only reason he is and always has been the right fit for LeBron James’ Lakers.
With NBA-ready talent honing their skills at such a young age, scouts are becoming increasingly skeptical of or hesitant to draft three or four-year players out of college. After all, if they were ready for the NBA, why did it take them so long to develop the skills that they have now?
Selecting Dalton Knecht Was A Strategy For The Los Angeles Lakers
But Knecht, a five-year player who attended three different programs in his collegiate career – Northeastern Junior College, Northern Arizona, Tennessee – comes in at the right time for the Lakers despite being a late bloomer.
James is at a stage of his career where he is no longer in the position to be mentoring younger, unrefined rookies who are considered projects. His primary focus is to win now – today. And the Lakers wanted to build a team around that idea.
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While there were players in the draft who might have more upside down the road than Knecht who could be better than he’ll ever be in a few years, James might not have a “few years” left. Knecht’s ability to contribute to the Lakers’ winning games right away is critical.
Dalton Knecht has scored in double digits in five straight games, including a career-high 37 points on nine made threes in Tuesday’s win against the Utah Jazz.