Life changes quickly in the NBA. Dalton Knecht went through that last season. Initially, he was seen as a steal in the draft as he fell to the 17 pick. A few months later, the Lakers traded him, which was eventually rescinded. Nonetheless, times have been tough for Knecht. Figuring out where he fits in the Lakers’ rotations is challenging.

Dan Woike, a veteran analyst, agrees with some legitimate concerns. Notably, his defensive positioning and game-reading skills have come under fire. Followed by a lackluster Summer League showing, the 24-year-old may struggle to adapt to JJ Redick’s system. How do you fix that?

“It’s only going to get better with reps. Like that’s the only pathway for him is a lot of time on the court, um, and a lot of mistakes and a lot of learning. I don’t know how patient they’re going to be on that front. I think there are some like offensive stuff too at play here,” Woike said on the Zach Lowe Show.

Dalton Knecht has been showing regular improvements throughout the preseason. In each of his three games, progress is evident. Likewise, time on the floor and being trusted with his duties are crucial for Knecht and the Lakers. He may have thought he would be the “11th guy in the rotation,” but that was before news about LeBron James missing the first few weeks.

With the Akron Hammer missing time at this stage, Redick will need Knecht to execute his playstyle. The second-year head coach wants to exercise spacing as their offensive identity. While Dalton Knecht has stumbled with consistency, he’s a mature basketball player who has shown just how dangerous he is when in rhythm.

JJ Redick, a prolific shooter, marveled at Knecht’s elite shooting prowess. But along with gaining confidence in his shot, Knecht needs to learn how to compete.

Dalton Knecht needs to make the most out of his opportunities

The Lakers’ former first-round pick’s underwhelming performances have revived trade rumors. But behind the scenes, JJ Redick has shown appreciation for Dalton Knecht. He recently claimed the 6’6” forward was the best offensive player during the Lakers’ training camp, scoring 42 points. Clearly, the promise isn’t as empty as it currently seems.

Dalton Knecht was among the few rookies who played multiple years in college. He was a stud and showed flashes of mastery even in Purple and Gold. But when it comes to being a regular player, Redick has made it clear. It depends on how he improves defensively. That’s where Knecht needs to bloom.

Over the past season, the 24-year-old found it difficult to adapt to the pace. He allowed opponents to shoot almost 50% from the field, averaging 2.7 contests per game. In contrast, Jared Vanderbilt doesn’t come close to being the shooter like his young teammate. However, JJ Redick values his effort on the defensive end, where he contributes as a ball hawk.

Dalton Knecht doesn’t have to emulate that. But he needs to compete to rise in the rotations. His performances in the first few weeks will be pivotal. With LeBron James‘ absence, he can play greater minutes and display his fervor on both sides of the floor. Regarding his offense, Knecht can thrive with the spacing on offer.

He could be a pivot during the first few weeks of the season. Defensively, Dalton Knecht needs to make technical repairs and offer resistance. But without that, hopes of being a consistent player for the Lakers are bleak.

Do you think Knecht can make an impact on the Lakers this season? Let us know your views in the comments below.