{"id":154141,"date":"2025-08-11T08:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T12:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=154141"},"modified":"2025-08-10T13:40:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-10T17:40:23","slug":"lakers-dalton-knecht-summer-slump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/08\/11\/lakers-dalton-knecht-summer-slump\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Slump Paints Bleak Picture for Sophomore Lakers Guard"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/08\/10\/lakers-bronny-james-growth-nate-mcmillan\/\" target=\"_self\">Summer League<\/a> may have helped increase stock in some of last year\u2019s draft class, it also decreased\u2014if not disintegrated\u2014the value of others. Lakers guard <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/knechda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dalton Knecht<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> finds himself in the latter category, with a rough offseason signaling a spiral in his odds of cracking the rotation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Summer Slump Paints Bleak Picture for Sophomore Lakers Guard<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>The Good, Bad and Ugly of Summer League<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a rookie campaign that saw him average 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds on.461\/.376\/.762 splits, many Lakers fans expected Dalton Knecht to grow in the offseason and become a capable backup wing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Summer League stopped any of that promise, serving as a rude awakening for last year\u2019s 17th overall pick. Besides a <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6NE5qb-WmYY\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">25-point outburst<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in a comeback win over the Spurs, Knecht faltered. The 24-year-old <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/basketball.realgm.com\/player\/Dalton-Knecht\/Summary\/166488\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">averaged<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 11.7 points and 4.8 rebounds between games in San Francisco and Las Vegas. He also shot a measly 32% from the field, 23% from three and 64% from the free-throw line. Between his offensive struggles and looking like a Tennessee orange traffic cone on defense, it\u2019s safe to say <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/dallashoopsjournal.com\/p\/los-angeles-lakers-dalton-knecht-trade-value-falls-nba-rumors\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Knecht\u2019s value has tanked significantly<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, there are still slivers of hope for both Knecht and Lakers fans to hold on to. For starters, he showed he could still score in bursts, a trait he unleashed against the Spurs. Knecht also improved on his off-ball cutting and transition play\u2014two aspects he flashed in spurts throughout the summer. Suiting up next to three elite playmakers in <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LeBron James<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/doncilu01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Luka Doncic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/reaveau01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Austin Reaves<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> should help his chances in meaningful games.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Here\u2019s Why You CAN\u2019T Give Up on Dalton Knecht Just Yet.\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YyWx3W95fCI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><b>Offseason Acquisitions Spell Trouble for Knecht<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Knecht can regain trust in training camp, a few more obstacles stand in his way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23-year-old <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/laravja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jake LaRavia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, who developed into a rotational piece for the Grizzlies and Kings, is in line for a similar (if not larger) role with the Lakers. A 6\u20198\u201d forward who shot 38% from deep last season, LaRavia offers a pivotal skill set Knecht doesn\u2019t have: defense. The Pasadena, Calif., native is a physical and active defender who is <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/lakersnation.com\/lakers-news-jake-laravia-believes-defense-is-most-improved-aspect-of-his-game\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">looking to grow on that end of the floor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Likewise, the addition of <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smartma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marcus Smart<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014another tenacious ball-stopper and a former Defensive Player of the Year\u2014could <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nba\/los-angeles-lakers\/lakers-facing-dalton-knecht-trade-decision-after-marcus-smart-report\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stunt Knecht\u2019s development<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> regardless of his role. Having Smart come off the bench would make him the perfect sixth man behind Doncic or Reaves. Placing him in the starting lineup, meanwhile, would push <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hachiru01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rui Hachimura<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the bench. Overall, it\u2019d be a lose-lose situation for Knecht unless he finds a rhythm and outplays his teammates for the ninth or tenth spot.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Playing Knecht Could Come with a Cost<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yet another strike against <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/athlonsports.com\/nba\/los-angeles-lakers\/lakers-facing-dalton-knecht-trade-decision-after-marcus-smart-report\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Knecht<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is what his minutes would mean for the Lakers\u2019 backup center spot, which is currently held by <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hayesja02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jaxson Hayes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (or, potentially, <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/k\/klebima01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maxi Kleber<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=YPxfVKew5bs\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">discussing potential rotations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with basketball analytics specialist \u201cCranjis McBasketball,\u201d Lakers insider Jovan Buha <a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jovanbuha\/status\/1953607368950133264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1953607368950133264%7Ctwgr%5E151646932b8961be9155467aaf48ff73a61f6e13%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Flastwordonsports.com%2Fbasketball%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D154141action%3Deditclassic-editor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">left Knecht out<\/a> of the ten-man group, citing how playing him would leave no room for a center.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe both had him outside of the 10-man rotation, but we acknowledged that this assumes JJ plays Jaxson\/Maxi at backup 5 and they play more traditional lineups,\u201d Buha <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jovanbuha\/status\/1953609818767601906\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wrote<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on X. \u201cIf they don&#8217;t play a true backup 5, DK could slide into the 10th spot. Hard to see him playing over any of [the] top 9.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI think they need to play their best players and it&#8217;s hard to argue him higher than 10th,\u201d he <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/jovanbuha\/status\/1953611810642518520?s=46&amp;t=iQEivvcP1g0ZPiGTZbpB4Q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">added<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, responding to another post. \u201cAnd even if you make that case, that means no backup center and the Lakers likely [playing] 16-20 minutes center-less. If they expand the rotation to 11 guys &#8212; unlikely but possible, at least for stretches of the season &#8212; then DK makes sense.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the five being a priority for the purple and gold, Knecht would likely have to sacrifice his minutes for Hayes and\/or Kleber\u2014a necessary move to avoid the pitfalls that small ball gave them last season.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Amid Tough Road Ahead, Knecht May Still Have a Chance<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Knecht may face a bevy of obstacles in the next few months, but he\u2019s still a valuable player who is eager to improve. And while the Redick-led Lakers are committed to developing young talent, the reality is: there are limited minutes to go around\u2014with some roles already defined.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus, it\u2019s on both Knecht and the Lakers to craft an effective plan for next season. Knecht must jump over several hurdles to show that his poor outings were outliers, while Redick and his staff do their part to find opportunities for him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a9 Matt Blewett-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While Summer League may have helped increase stock in some of last year\u2019s draft class, it also decreased\u2014if not disintegrated\u2014the value of others. Lakers guard Dalton Knecht finds himself in the latter category, with a rough offseason signaling a spiral in his odds of cracking the rotation. Summer Slump Paints Bleak Picture for Sophomore Lakers [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4265,"featured_media":154144,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,26,62],"tags":[4556,49212,38,1133,428,1749],"class_list":["post-154141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-lakers","category-nba","tag-austin-reaves","tag-dalton-knecht","tag-lebron-james","tag-luka-doncic","tag-marcus-smart","tag-rui-hachimura"],"modified_by":"Jordan Pagkalinawan","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154141","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=154141"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154141\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":154151,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/154141\/revisions\/154151"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/154144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=154141"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=154141"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=154141"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}