The Lakers made a key move ahead of their opening night tilt with the Golden State Warriors, securing Dalton Knecht’s future with LA after a rollercoaster rookie year.
Lakers Instill Vote of Confidence in Polarizing Sophomore
LA Picks Up Knecht’s Team Option
The Lakers picked up Knecht’s $4.2 million team option Monday, keeping him on the books until the summer of 2027. Once considered a steal of the 2024 NBA Draft, Knecht showed flashes of potential as an athletic sharpshooter. A four-game stretch in November, which saw him replace an injured Rui Hachimura, saw him put up 23.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game on 60% shooting from the field and 57% from deep. That included a career-high 37-point outburst against the Utah Jazz in the Emirates NBA Cup.
Lakers pick up the option on Dalton Knecht.
Last year in November:
14 games.
13.6 points 4 reb on 46% shooting from 3
— Raj C. (@RajChipalu) October 21, 2025
However, glaring inconsistency and a rescinded midseason trade defined Knecht’s rookie campaign. All told, in 78 games (16 starts), Knecht averaged 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds on .461/.376/.762 splits.
Recently Knecht bore the brunt of controversy after a poor showing in Summer League. Throughout LA’s two stints in Sacramento and Las Vegas, he averaged 11.7 points per game on .321/.237/.643 splits. His poor performances led to a decrease in his stock, with teams no longer valuing him as a first-round pick, according to Lakers insider Jovan Buha.
Lakers Still Committed to “Knecht 4”
Despite offseason struggles, the Lakers’ decision to pick up Knecht’s option clearly displays their trust in the sophomore sharpshooter. Head coach JJ Redick had addressed Knecht’s offseason during a September press conference.
“Dalton is in a really good spot right now. I’ve had a number of conversations with him throughout the summer and they’ve all been very positive. I really believe this: the guy did too much after the season and I think in summer league, he was burnt out. He was coming in here at 5 a.m. getting shots up, then doing two workouts with our Summer League staff and in the weight room. We had our last conditioning run of the preseason today, and he beat everybody by a long way. He’s in phenomenal shape, he’s in a great spot mentally and he’s played well throughout September.”
Knecht has also appeared to flip the script in training camp, with data pointing to him being the team’s best offensive player, according to Redick. But after an inconsistent preseason—where he tallied 28 points across the team’s first two games before falling into single digits—it’s clear he has plenty of work to do to reach his full potential.
Why This Season Matters for Dalton Knecht
Knecht is entering a “prove-it” year despite having his option secured, with the team’s additions posing some competition for rotational minutes. As things stand now, he will have to compete with Jake LaRavia for opportunities at backup small forward—chances that will become even slimmer once LeBron James returns.
As Redick said, defense will be the key to Knecht reaching his ceiling, an area that LaRavia already has an advantage in. If Knecht wants to return to his November form (and keep that confidence going forward), he must show his commitment to that end of the floor while impacting the game through high effort and communication. Doing so, Redick told The Athletic, will make Knecht a true “impact player.” If Knecht redeems himself and shows his value to the purple and gold, it could also keep him out of inevitable trade rumors that are bound to strike this season.
The Lakers envisioned Knecht filling a major hole as a 3-and-D wing. While he has yet to put it all together, they clearly trust his ability to bounce back for a solid second year.
© Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
