The 2024-25 season ended with a whimper for the Los Angeles Lakers, as they suffered an embarrassing 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Timberwolves despite having home-court advantage. There will be a ton of soul-searching for GM Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick as they look to upgrade the roster to make the Lakers a true championship contender.
As they make the decision on who to retain and who to let go this offseason, the Lakers have to make a tough admission about one of their recent draft picks. It is safe to call the 17th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Dalton Knecht, a bust for the Lakers.
Lakers' Dalton Knecht Pick Proved to Be a Mistake
While that may seem harsh for a player after his rookie season, it's important to remember that Knecht is already 24 and was one of the oldest players to be drafted last year. The idea behind drafting an older prospect is that they should be ready to contribute on Day 1. The fact that he wasn't able to see the floor at all in the playoffs, despite the Lakers desperately needing more depth, is proof of the organization's lack of faith in the shooting guard.
Knecht played a role off the bench during the regular season, averaging 19.2 minutes in 78 games, but his playing time waxed and waned. While he shot a respectable 37.6% from three, he needs to be much better there to outweigh his defensive deficiencies, especially on a team that already has defensively challenged perimeter players like Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.
It is hard to imagine Knecht fitting in next to this iteration of the Lakers with Reaves, Doncic, and LeBron James. LA needs more defense, size, and athleticism, three things Knecht lacks.
If Knecht gets his three-point percentage closer to 40%, he should still be able to find a role elsewhere in the NBA. The Lakers already tried to move him at the trade deadline, and it shouldn't be a surprise if they attempted it again in the offseason. There is simply no reason to be patient with Knecht after his disappointing rookie season.
