Spacing rules modern-day basketball. That will be Dalton Knecht's saving grace to try and salvage a consistent role off the bench for the Los Angeles Lakers in the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season.
When the Lakers selected Knecht with the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Tennessee product arrived with the billing of being one of the top 3-point threats among his class. That did prove to be the case in his rookie season.
Knecht shot 37.6 percent from beyond the arc on 4.4 attempts per game, averaging 9.1 points overall in his 78 regular season appearances. If the Lakers marksman is going to return to the good graces of JJ Redick in 2025-26, that selling point will be his main one for getting on the court.
There will certainly be other major factors to consider regarding whether Knecht can comfortably be left on the floor without being a negative for the Lakers. However, for a team that lacks a ton of top-tier options from distance, the second-year shooter has the opening that he needs.
Lakers can’t compete without someone filling their shooting void
An offense led by Luka Doncic has always thrived when there are players who can capitalize on the easy opportunities from the perimeter that the Lakers point guard creates. That can be the driving force to get Knecht slotted into the rotation in 2025-26.
Jovan Buha pointed out the lackluster shooting for the Lakers on a recent episode of his podcast. Looking up and down the roster leaves plenty to be desired in this aspect.
"There's just not a lot of shooting in the rotation outside of the main guys," Buha said. "Luka, Austin [Reaves], and LeBron [James] are all above average shooters. ... I think for L.A. needing some shooting, and a guy who can just space the floor and get hot, I still see the value in Dalton."
The Lakers shot 36.6 percent from 3-point land in the 2024-25 regular season, solid enough to land them in the middle of the pack at 14th. However, for a team that ranked 4th in the NBA, following the All-Star break, in the percentage of their shots coming from distance, that number needs to be higher.
In the shift to playing an offense that meshes more closely to a brand Doncic is comfortable with, there was an increased emphasis on spacing and 3-point shooting. That came with an uptick in their production, hitting 37.6 from deep, which ranked 10th since the All-Star break.
To maintain a steady and sustainable diet from 3-point that the Lakers will want to implement, having the capable bodies out there will be key. As long as Knecht does not bleed points on defense, there should be a fighting chance for him to carve out minutes and avoid some ugly labels in the process.