With their 17th overall pick, the Lakers drafted Dalton Knecht. The talented guard slipped under the radar after being tipped as a top-10 pick, but the Lakers did not pass the opportunity when it presented itself.
Getting the opportunity to wear the Gold and Purple threads of the Lakers was a special day for Knecht. The fact that he drew inspiration from none other than the Lakers great, Kobe Bryant, makes it even more special for the fans. “Kobe jersey that he wore, all-white Christmas special with purple accents,” Knecht said when asked about the first jersey he ever had.
Knecht comes into the NBA after a reputable stint in college basketball. With Tennessee, he averaged 21.7 points per game from 45.8% floor shooting. His sharpshooting from beyond the 3-point arc is also impressive, with a 39.7% success rate.
The Julius Erving Award recipient is also a consensus All-American first-teamer, so there’s a lot about Knecht to be optimistic about.
How can Lakers capitalize on Dalton Knecht draft?
Thinking of a player coming into the NBA and hitting the ground running can sometimes lead to unwanted pressure for the player and the franchise. But with Castle, they have the opportunity to dive deeper into other aspects of the team.
Now that the Lakers have Knecht, they can explore the idea of trading Austin Reaves. The Lakers’ interest in Dejounte Murray is no secret and the LA franchise can contemplate this again. A straight swap for the Hawks guard with Reaves makes sense and helps them add that 3rd star to the team. Even if Murray doesn’t work out, they’ll have Castle to step up to the plate.
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D’Angelo Russell’s future is also another decision for the Lakers to make, and if the Lakers choose to go with Knecht in the guard position, there shouldn’t be much surprise. Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick are already on a high with the draft of Dalton Knecht so it’ll be an interesting watch next season.
