Dalton Knecht has experienced one of the unfortunate pitfalls of playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Following a lackluster showing at Summer League, the second-year wing's stock appears to be plummeting, with many jumping to the conclusion that he's regressed.
For as disappointing as his play at Summer League may have been, a simple truth remains: He's still the Lakers' best shot at reliably explosive off-ball offense.
Knecht finished his rookie season with averages of 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 three-point field goals made in just 19.2 minutes per game. He did so while shooting at an efficient clip of .461/.376/.762, recording an eFG% of .576 that was well above the league average of .543.
That efficiency is even more impressive when one considers that Knecht's averages translated to 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.1 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.
Unfortunately, that impressive production hasn't yet translated to a consistent role in head coach JJ Redick's rotation. His defensive inconsistency is often cited as the reason why, and the acquisition of defensive-minded perimeter players Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart seemingly confirmed that theory.
The saving grace for Knecht as he works to improve his defense, however, is that he's the Lakers' best option for success in an off-ball role.
Dalton Knecht is still the best off-ball volume shooter the Lakers have
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Knecht isn't just an efficient shooter, but a player who's willing to take shots that the average shooter might shy away from. His range extends far beyond the three-point line and, when he's empowered to play his game, the results can be captivating.
In 2024-25, Knecht went off for 37 points in a single game—one of his two 30-point outings and seven showings with at least 20 despite his limited playing time.
The Lakers have no shortage of quality three-point shooters on the roster, of course, which is a credit to Rob Pelinka supporting his slashing playmakers appropriately. That includes the very three-headed monster Los Angeles is building around: Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves.
Alleviating pressure from the stars should always be a top priority, however, and the hurdle facing the Lakers is that the supporting shooters have a limited history as high-volume converters.
Rui Hachimura has shot 41.3 percent or better from beyond the arc over each of the past two seasons, but averaged 1.9 makes per 36 minutes to Knecht's 3.1. Gabe Vincent, meanwhile, is a career 33.7 percent shooter from beyond the arc.
LaRavia showed impressive potential by burying 42.3 percent of his attempts in 2024-25, but he did so while making 1.6 per 36 minutes—just over half of Knecht's average.
With this in mind, the Lakers must not overlook the value that Knecht can provide in 2025-26 and beyond. He's skilled enough to be more than a catch-and-shoot specialist, but his proficiency from beyond the arc can be coupled with his athleticism to make him the ultimate off-ball threat.
Knecht still has work to do to prove that he should be ahead of some of the players he'll be competing with for minutes, but his off-ball value at least opens the door for him.