{"id":169862,"date":"2025-12-15T16:02:03","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T21:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=169862"},"modified":"2025-12-15T16:02:03","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T21:02:03","slug":"lakers-bold-decision-dalton-knecht-g-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/12\/15\/lakers-bold-decision-dalton-knecht-g-league\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Make Bold Decision on Former First-Round Pick"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following a wire-to-wire win over the Phoenix Suns Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers have made a tough yet necessary decision on a young forward who has fallen out of the rotation. According to <\/span>The Athletic\u2019s Dan Woike<\/span><\/a>, the team has assigned sophomore wing <\/span>Dalton Knecht<\/span><\/a> to the G League\u2019s South Bay Lakers alongside rookie forward <\/span>Adou Thiero<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lakers Make Bold Decision on Former First-Round Pick<\/b><\/h2>\n

Growing Concerns Over Knecht\u2019s Future<\/b><\/h3>\n

While Thiero\u2019s assignment is expected as a second-round pick trapped in a logjam of defensive pests, Knecht\u2019s assignment may be a surprise amid his fall from grace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Drafted 17th overall by the Lakers last year, the 24-year-old enjoyed a relatively productive rookie season, averaging 9.1 points per game on 46% shooting from the field and 37% from three. His solid output came with a level of trust from head coach JJ Redick and his staff, who played Knecht an average of 19 minutes per game last season and inserted him into the starting lineup amid a slew of injuries to the first unit. Despite a botched midseason trade and a <\/span>disappointing Summer League<\/span><\/a>, the Lakers reiterated their trust in Knecht by <\/span>picking up his team option<\/span><\/a> nearly two months ago.<\/span><\/p>\n