The Los Angeles Lakers have two of the best players in the NBA, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Coming into the 2024-25 season, the question was who else would step up on the roster. Unexpectedly, it was a rookie, 17th overall pick Dalton Knecht, who had become a dangerous weapon for the team. In the past week, he has cracked the starting lineup and hit some big shots. It has led to many fans wondering how he fell in the NBA Draft. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst revealed why.
Los Angeles Lakers Dalton Knecht Falls To 17
Dalton Knecht was one of the best college basketball players last season for Tennessee. He was first-team All-SEC and a consensus first-team All-American. On top of that, he was the SEC Player of the Year and won the Julius Erving Award for the best small forward in the nation. A player with these accolades should be a surefire lottery pick. However, he fell all the way to the Los Angeles Lakers at 17. Windhorst explained it was Knecht’s age that caused him to fall.
“Scouts are skeptical about three-year college players, turned off by almost all four-year college players and usually slam the notebook on the mere idea of drafting a five-year college player like Knecht. Teams draft on upside and 23-year-olds and upside don’t go together, which is why scouts lowered Knecht on their draft boards.
“But the Lakers saw impressive measurables at the draft combine: a 6-foot-9 wingspan, a 39-inch vertical and the fastest shuttle run in the field. As one longtime talent evaluator pointed out: Knecht led the SEC in scoring last season, and the list of players who have done that — Pete Maravich, Bernard King, Shaquille O’Neal and Dominique Wilkins, among them — should’ve earned him more respect on draft night.”
Scouts want someone with huge upside. They would rather take a risk on a young player than draft the experience of a senior. We’ve seen this in the NFL. Much has been made about the age of Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels. However, both have shown poise and polish to their game that many rookies do not have. This is the same with Dalton Knecht. He was ready to step into a team and produce right away because of his experience.
Kudos To The Lakers Scouts
Many teams were releasing through the media that they didn’t like this draft class. They didn’t see a surefire star in the class, and this caused many teams to draft for upside as well. You have to give the Los Angeles Lakers credit here. They knew exactly what they needed around LeBron and Davis: shooting. Lack of shooting has been the downfall of this team in the past. There is no denying the scoring prowess of James and Davis. However, it can’t all be on them. Dalton Knecht gives this team another scoring punch.
A Change In Philosophy?
After Knecht tied an NBA rookie record with nine three-pointers in a game, LeBron joked after the game about how the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t magically discover the rookie. He was the SEC Player of the Year! Everyone knew what he brought to the table. It was simply draft philosophy that caused him to fall. Will the success of players like Knecht cause GMs to shift their thinking?
It hasn’t just been Dalton Knecht. Other juniors and seniors have come into the NBA and shown their readiness to contribute. Jaylen Wells, the 39th overall pick, has played well for the Memphis Grizzlies. Antonio Reeves, the 47th overall pick, got a chance with the New Orleans Pelicans because of the rash of injuries on the roster. He dropped 34 points in 40 minutes against the Cavaliers on Wednesday. Older players don’t come with massive upside but they do come with a known set of skills that can help a team right away.
Final Thoughts
The success of the Los Angeles Lakers rests on the health of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. However, players like Dalton Knecht have taken some of the pressure off the superstar players. The championship window is closing. Rob Pelinka will no doubt look to improve this roster at the trade deadline. Knecht looks like a home run pick and could be one of the great draft night steals from this year.
