The Los Angeles Lakers used the No. 17 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft to add shooting help for LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Lakers used their first-round selection to draft former Tennessee standout Dalton Knecht.
Dalton Knecht going to the Lakers. This dude was a bucket getter at Tennessee and will be a great fit with LeBron James and Anthony Davis!!#LakeShow #NBA #NBADraft
— Tadi Abedje (@realTadiAbedje) June 27, 2024
Dalton Knecht let’s go. Another shooter for Bron and AD
— Rodney Johnson (@RodJohnsonJr24) June 27, 2024
Knecht gonna be tough with lebron and AD
— Brennan Thacker (@thacker_brennan) June 27, 2024
Knecht averaged a career-high 21.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in 36 starts during his senior season with the Volunteers, a performance that previously earned him praise from James:
LeBron James was praising Dalton Knecht months ago!
— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) June 27, 2024
He could now play a key role in helping space out the floor for Davis and James next season.
ESPN’s Jeremy Woo named Knecht the “best movement shooter” in the draft after he shot 39.7 percent off screens, including 36.8 percent from deep, while leading Tennessee to the Elite Eight.
real talk though, I thought Dalton Knecht was objectively hilarious as a potential top 5 pick, but that could be an absolutely 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁er fit on a LeBron team.
exact sort of guy that has thrived with LBJ in the past. https://t.co/Tnh1isuJ1V
— Brandon Anderson (@wheatonbrando) June 27, 2024
LeBron should be happy. Dalton Knecht can SHOOT IT.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) June 27, 2024
Lakers fans were happy— and surprised— to see Knecht fall out of the top 15 and into the range of the first Los Angeles pick.
Many mock drafts, including Jonathan Wasserman’s final mock for Bleacher Report, predicted that the Vols sharpshooter would go within the top ten.
The Lakers got a steal with Dalton Knecht falling to them at 17.
Knecht is one of the best shooters in this draft and will fit extremely well alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis https://t.co/yQtkc09hjf
— Ben Cooper (@BenCooperNBA) June 27, 2024
Lakers might’ve just gotten the steal of the draft.. Dalton Knecht should thrive with Bron facilitating and JJ drawing up sets for him to get open looks
— breshaun. (@_bsperspective) June 27, 2024
Dalton Knecht at No. 17 is the steal of the draft. No idea how he slipped this far
— Chicco Nacion (@chicco_n) June 27, 2024
Dalton Knecht is a pure sharpshooter. He was projected to go in the top 10 of the draft. The Lakers got him at 17. What a steal!!!
— Darren M. Haynes (@DarrenMHaynes) June 27, 2024
The pick sets up head coach JJ Redick to spend his first year as a NBA head coach helping shape Knecht’s development.
Some fans see the scoring-focused 23-year-old as a similar player to Redick himself.
Dalton Knecht is going to thrive with the Lakers cause he’s basically a taller JJ Redick and JJ will coach him up!
— Rudy Williams (@Mr_Sporu) June 27, 2024
Oh, man. Dalton Knecht to the Lakers. Love the pick. Do I have to root for the Lakers now?! JJ Redick drafted a way more athletic version of himself.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) June 27, 2024
Dalton Knecht probably got the best possible mentor for his s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 set in JJ Redick. Wow
— Andrew Addison, Esq. (@TheAndrewSystem) June 27, 2024
The Lakers select next with the No. 55 pick of the second round.
With James set to decide on his 2024-25 player option by Saturday, the Lakers will hope their first-round selection of one of the best shooters in the draft will help convince the superstar to stay in Los Angeles for at least one more season.
