Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht describes his game: "Fun to watch and must tune in"
Dalton Knecht is making a strong first impression. The LA Lakers rookie has captured the hearts of fans and experts with his impressive performances during the NBA Summer League, drawing comparisons to some of the league's biggest stars. He's also extremely confident in his own skills and capabilities on the court.
In a recent interview, Knecht described his style of play as "fun to watch". The Tennessee product, known for his scoring ability and athleticism, believes his game will translate seamlessly to the NBA. In a post shared by the Lakers on X/Twitter, he also shared the inspiration behind his playing style:
"I would describe my game as fun to watch and must tune in. I modeled my game after a couple people. Kevin Durant's the biggest one, and then I'd say Devin Booker and JJ Redick," Knecht said.
The former Tennessee Volunteer has certainly backed up his words with his impressive college career. Knecht averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game in his one season in Tennessee.
More recently, Knecht has been making waves at the NBA Summer League. Notably, he leads the Summer League rookies so far in points per game with a staggering 21.3 ppg, while also grabbing 5.0 rpg.
Knecht's arrival has brought a level of excitement to the Lakers' organization as it looks toward returning to championship contention. His swagger, combined with his skill set could make him a household name and a must-watch player next season.
Paul Pierce suggests trade for Dalton Knecht to improve Lakers roster
Dalton Knecht was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. While many are excited about his potential, NBA legend Paul Pierce has a different idea.
In a recent episode of "Undisputed", the former Boston Celtics great suggested that the Lakers should consider trading Knecht as part of a package to acquire a third superstar for their roster alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
Pierce said:
"I think Dalton Knecht has improved his stock, right here in the Summer League. So now, you could throw him in a package with [Austin Reeves] and [D'Angelo Russell] to where now you could probably net a third star."
The idea of trading away a promising rookie is undoubtedly controversial, but Pierce's argument is rooted in the Lakers' win-now mentality. With LeBron James nearing the end of his stellar career while still averaging 25.7 ppg and Anthony Davis as an All-NBA caliber player beside him, the team is in championship-or-bust mode. Adding a third star to the mix could significantly increase their chances of contention next season.
For the Lakers, they must first assess whether or not any marginal gains made from such a trade are worth potentially sacrificing part of their future and letting a talented young player like Knecht go. It may be a viable strategy, though given how much promise Knecht has shown the Lakers so far, they could also consider him as a potential franchise core and develop him accordingly.
What do you think the Lakers should do with Dalton Knecht? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.