The Los Angeles Lakers have reached a crossroads with sharpshooting wing Dalton Knecht. Knecht showcased exceptional upside on the offensive end of the floor as a rookie, but his defensive inconsistency resulted in limited playing time and a trade that would've sent him to the Charlotte Hornets if not for Mark Williams' failed physical.
As the Lakers face the reality of Austin Reaves' catch-and-shoot inefficiency and what that might entail for the backcourt he shares with Luka Doncic, however, Knecht has a true second chance.
Reaves shot just 34.5 percent on catch-and-shoot threes during the 2025 NBA Playoffs. That could be easy enough to forgive in a vacuum, but he buried just 16.7 percent of his attempts during the 2024 postseason, thus revealing a trend worth being alarmed by.
Reaves will need to [make improvements of his own](https://lakeshowlife.com/significant-improvement-austin-reaves-make-fit-next-luka-doncic), but if his inconsistency proves anything, it's that Los Angeles must embrace the value of strength in numbers.
One of the most rational approaches to thriving in that regard would be to feature Knecht more prominently. Others have proven proficient, but Knecht combines volume with efficiency in a manner the Lakers have often been without.
Reaves has all of the talent to fix his own issue, but whether or not he does, Knecht's reliability as a shooter could be his saving grace in potential trade talks.
Dalton Knecht is the perfect sharpshooting complement to Luka Doncic
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Knecht finished his rookie season averaging 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 three-point field goals made in just 19.2 minutes per game. The math doesn't lie about how impressive those numbers are, as they translate to marks of 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.1 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
Compounded by his efficient rookie-year slash line of .461/.376/.762, Knecht has already established himself as one of the best shooters on the roster.
That was further established by the fact that Knecht buried 37.4 percent of his catch-and-shoot three-point field goals in 2024-25. That number increased to 43.0 percent after Doncic debuted with the Lakers on Feb. 10.
It's fair to believe that Knecht's shooting proficiency will only improve as he gains experience and becomes more comfortable with the pace of the NBA game.
It's also worth noting that Knecht shot 43.9 percent on corner threes during the 2024-25 regular season. As an off-ball complement to the Lakers' trio of playmakers in Doncic, LeBron James, and Reaves, that's a remarkable figure to be able to rely upon.
Knecht also shot 2.8 percent better than the league average on three-point field goals from above the right break, and was just 0.2 percent off the pace above the left break.
Throw in the fact that Knecht shot 8.3 percent better than the league average in the restricted area, and there's ample reason for optimism. He was fourth among qualified rookies in points per 36 minutes, and has all of the tools to build upon that success.
That process should begin in 2025-26, when Knecht continues to prove that his skill set was tailor-made to fit alongside Doncic.