Playing next to [Los Angeles Lakers superstars LeBron James and Luka Doncic](https://lasportshub.com/lebron-james-ends-all-ridiculous-rumors-with-luka-doncic-post-instagram-01k4n4q67sfe) is a double-edged sword.
While having two elite playmakers carry the offensive load and create good looks for you on every possession is obviously a blessing, it comes with a certain standard one needs to meet. Those players have high expectations from their teammates, who have to cover up for them on the defensive end of the floor and hit the open shots created for them. Without those two key abilities, fitting around a star in the NBA is getting increasingly more difficult.
The Lakers' first-round pick from the 2024 NBA draft, Dalton Knecht, is [learning this the hard way.](https://lasportshub.com/lakers-bust-either-shape-up-ship-out-before-end-2025-01k2q7xv7cf3)
Dalton Knecht's Struggles Will Lead to His Inevitable Lakers Exit
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Knecht arrived in LA as a 23-year-old rookie out of Tennessee last year. When teams draft older rookies, they expect them to contribute right away since their selection is more about the present than the future ceiling. The Lakers saw Knecht as an important piece who would help alleviate the team's shooting woes. Fast forward a year, and Knecht hasn't done nearly enough for the Lakers to feel good about their pick.
The Lakers still desperately need more shooting. This has only been exacerbated by the arrival of Doncic, who is at his best when surrounded by shooters that give him enough space to operate inside the arc. Despite the team searching for more shooting in the final stretch of the season and in the playoffs, Knecht failed to become a consistent part of the rotation. His 37.6% accuracy from behind the three-point line is not good enough for a player whose calling card is his shooting.
The fact that he played fewer than four minutes in the postseason is also telling about his future in L.A.
Knecht is never going to be the prototypical three-and-D role player next to LeBron and Luka. He doesn't have the size, athleticism, and versatility to provide much on the defensive end. However, if he were a good enough shooter, he would easily carve out a role for himself with the Lakers. Yet, he was only an above-average three-point shooter last season, making him hard to trust given his shortcomings in every other aspect of the game.
Unfortunately for Knecht, this will be his eventual downfall. The Lakers' championship window is right now as LeBron James enters his age-41 season. They don't have the luxury to sit around and wait for Knecht to figure things out. On another team, the former Tennessee star can get more touches and get his confidence back, but he won't get that chance playing for the Lakers, setting things up for his inevitable exit before next season's trade deadline in February.
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