While the pursuit of [a new starting center](https://lakeshowlife.com/rumor-unexpectedly-hands-lakers-opportunity-trade-star-center) has stolen headlines, the Los Angeles Lakers are in quiet need of improved bench scoring. Thankfully, the answer resides with a player who simply needs the opportunity to rectify the issue: Dalton Knecht.
Speculation continues to mount that Knecht could be traded during the 2025 offseason, but it would behoove Los Angeles to explore his value more thoroughly.
Knecht put together a strong rookie season, albeit while struggling to secure consistent playing time. Such a development is admittedly a regular occurrence for first-year players, but the former Tennessee Volunteers star was in a unique position.
Not only was Knecht productive despite his playing time, but he quickly and sustainably emerged as the Lakers' most reliable source of offense off the bench.
Rather than forfeiting cap space or trading out potentially valuable assets for a new sixth man, Los Angeles should give Knecht a chance to prove he can deliver. He's young and talented enough to still have considerable trade value if the gamble fails to pay off, as well as skilled enough to fill the role.
Los Angeles came within a failed physical of trading Knecht for Mark Williams, but this summer, it must count its blessings that its next sixth man is still on the roster.
Dalton Knecht can save Lakers considerable money on a sixth man
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Knecht finished his rookie season with averages of 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 three-point field goals made per game on .461/.376/.762 shooting. Despite playing just 19.2 minutes per contest, he led all Lakers reserves in both scoring and three-point field goal conversions.
Furthermore, Knecht's averages translated to 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.1 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes—the type of production teams dream of from a sixth man, let alone a rookie.
Expanding the parameters to the NBA at large, Knecht ranked seventh among qualified reserves—minimum: 65 games played—in both points and three-point field goals made per 36 minutes. He also ranked No. 1 amongst rookies in threes and No. 4 in scoring on that same per-36 basis.
Furthermore, the only Lakers who averaged more points per 36 minutes than Knecht in 2024-25 were Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.
There's more to the game than scoring, but Knecht is exactly what the Lakers need in a sixth man—and everything they otherwise lack. In 2024-25, Los Angeles ranked No. 29 in bench points per game and finished dead last in bench points per 100 possessions.
The primary source of that issue: No other Lakers reserve could be trusted for consistent offensive contributions during the 2024-25 season.
Dorian Finney-Smith averaged 7.9 points per game, but he also started 20 of his 43 appearances. Gabe Vincent averaged 8.2 points on 37.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc after Feb. 1, but questions persist about how trustworthy he is from a volume perspective.
Upgrading at center is [Los Angeles' top priority](https://lakeshowlife.com/lakers-sell-farm-stretch-five-available), but second on the list must be positioning Knecht to turn Los Angeles' erratic bench scoring into a reliable strength.