“We would have never imagined a player as skilled and sort of perfect for our needs would be there for us as Dalton Knecht.” With the Tennessee guard available as low as No. 17, Rob Pelinka was left thanking his stars. Sure enough, the Lakers couldn’t have asked for a better prospect who many believed would end up as a lottery pick. But was there a reason Knecht dropped so low in the draft?

In his final year with the Tennessee Volunteers, Knecht averaged 21.7 points. He converted 39.7 percent of his 3-point attempts and averaged 4.9 rebounds along with 1.8 assists. He was named the 2023-24 SEC Player of the Year and an Associated Press First Team All-American. But according to league sources he slipped in the pecking order due to concerns over his age and defensive capabilities.

Speaking on the Lakers Nation, Trevor Lane praised Knecht’s athletic ability and the fact that during the Summer League, he wasn’t “afraid to get contact at the rim.” Lee also highlighted his play which puts pressure on defenses but pointed out a major flaw.”It’s not all good for Dalton Knecht. There’s a reason why he was on the board at 17 and it goes beyond just age,” Lee said.

During the Summer League, it was observed that the 23-year-old had trouble staying in front of his opponents on defense and sliding his feet. Trevor Lane claimed “Well, the problem with Dalton Knecht is on the other side of the floor. It’s the defense. You can see it, despite the fact he is actually extremely quick, he is very athletic. He just doesn’t have a great feel for the defensive side.” However, that might not be a problem when the regular season begins.

According to the reports, Dalton Knecht has undergone a major transformation and has been putting on muscle during the summer, which is something that could help him fix this issue. Lee brought up media veteran Mike Bresnahan’s comments on the Lakeshow Podcast from September 6. “I did hear that Knecht has been putting on some muscle. So he’s definitely getting bigger. I thought he was already pretty good around the rim for a guard, but now he’s gonna be bigger and better than what we saw the last of him several months ago when he was still a college kid,” Bresnahan had said.

Lee then mentioned how this transformation can help Knecht. “For a guy who got to the free throw line nearly six times per game in college, this is going to allow to continue to get that contact at the rim, still be able to finish and draw those free throws.” During the draft process, the Lakers were refused a chance to workout with Knecht by his camp, believing that he would be a fairly early pick. Many experts had ranked him in the top 10 during mock drafts. But it didn’t turn out to be the case.

His defensive capabilities are what stopped teams from going for him early. His offensive athleticism hasn’t translated to the defensive side of the ball and standing upright too often, allows defenders to go past him on the perimeter. At 6-foot-6, bulking up could help him to develop his defensive game to a good degree.

While he is already quick and athletic, the added muscle will help him endure more contact on defense and keep up with his opponents. How well he handles defensive challenges in the NBA, could very well determine his playing time and which position he could play during his rookie season. Last season a major shortcoming for the Lakers was that they had too many one-way players. If Knecht makes himself useful at both ends, we could see him get ample game time.

Back in June, Rob Pelinka mentioned that Knecht was already working to improve his physique. “This kid has improved his body. He’s gonna live in the weight room. He’s committed to getting stronger, staying quick. And I just think his size alone — he’s a plus-four wingspan. He’s got good size for a shooter.” 

If the physical transformation helps him fix his defensive flaws, he can be an asset for JJ Reddick as he looks to revive the Lakers’ fortunes next season. Given the gaps in their team, Knecht can make himself useful right away.

Can Dalton Knecht live up to Rob Pelinka and LeBron James’ expectations?

With Knecht working on his physique and defensive skills, there might eventually be no weakness left in his game. During the Summer League, he already proved he is a great offensive player as he averaged 21.3 points in 3 games while shooting 39.1% from beyond the arc. Rob Pelinka has high hopes for the rookie. “We think he’s a player who can play on next year’s team and make a real impact,” he said in June.

While most rookies don’t get much playing time in their first year, Dalton Knecht could get it right away because he is that skilled on offense. LeBron James himself, on the other hand, has deemed the youngster his “favorite player in college basketball” besides his son, Bronny. “I just liked his ability to shoot the ball, his athleticism, his height, his demeanor that he played with. I’ve always kinda felt that his game would translate to the NBA,” the hoops legend remarked.

With immense trust coming from the team’s leader and the management, it’s now up to Dalton Knecht to prove his mettle as a rookie. Do you think he can impact the Purple and Gold’s winning right away?

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.