Rob Pelinka says Lakers view Dalton Knecht as player who can ‘make a real impact’ next season
The Lakers drafted Dalton Knecht with the No. 17 pick in this year’s draft and Rob Pelinka sees him as a player who can contribute immediately to this team.
The Lakers drafted Dalton Knecht with the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The selection was a surprise, as most expected him to be a lottery pick.
But every year, some players rise and fall and the Lakers were able to pick up the Tennesse Volunteer in what could be the steal of the entire draft.
After the selection, vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka spoke to media members about the immediate impact Knecht could have on this team.
Pelinka on Knecht's experience as a 23-year-old, still with room to grow: "We think he’s a player who can play on next year’s team and make a real impact. He has a lot of upside left … at every step he’s improved, and we expect that improvement at the next level as well.”
— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) June 27, 2024
Pelinka obviously would like the pick he was in charge of, but these statements aren't just hyperbole or random biblical references.
Knecht is already more seasoned than most NBA rookies at 23 years old. He played at an elite level as a senior at Tennessee, averaging 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
His 39.7% average from the 3-point range also excites Pelinka and the Lakers as they continue a franchise-long pursuit for a 3-and-D wing that can help space the floor and be a dependable knockdown shooter. The Lakers haven't had anyone who can consistently hit catch-and-shoot 3-pointers since Danny Green in 2020.
New head coach JJ Redick also seemed pretty excited about adding Knecht to the roster, as Pelinka also shared with a little anecdote.
Rob Pelinka says the Lakers view Dalton Knecht as a 3-and-D wing who will be able to defend 2s and 3s.
— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) June 27, 2024
If Knecht does play significant minutes this year, that would be a refreshing change of pace compared to the Laker's most recent draft picks.
Last year, Jalen Hood Schifino only played in 21 games, averaging 5.2 minutes. Now, Hood-Schifino was also injured and underwent lumbar microdiscectomy back surgery, ending his season early, but even so, he wasn't playing much when healthy.
Max Christie only averaged 12.5 minutes during his 2022-23 rookie campaign, and his sophomore season only saw a slight bump in play, averaging 14.1 minutes per game.
Knecht may be coming in as a rookie, but given his time in college, he's older than both of these Lakers at 23, while Christie and Hood-Schifino are both 21.
The hope for the franchise and Lakers fans alike is that Knecht can come in and make an immediate impact, just like Jaime Jaquez Jr. did for the Miami Heat last season.
Jaquez played 28.2 minutes per game on a competitive Heat squad and was one of the best value picks at No. 18.
Hopefully, Knecht can provide a similar impact on a winning Lakers team in 2024-25.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.