"Top 5 bench scorer after All-Star break"- Laker Film Room creator issues 'bold' prediction for rookie Dalton Knecht
LA Lakers GM Rob Pelinka told reporters after the 2024 NBA Draft they couldn’t believe Dalton Knecht fell to their lap. Most mock drafts pegged the former Tennessee star to land in the top 10. Knecht’s team anticipated as much as it reportedly declined a workout with the Lakers who had the No. 17 pick.
Jovan Buha wrote in “The Athletic” that the reason Knecht slipped was concerns about his age (23) and defense. After the Philadelphia 76ers grabbed Jared McCain, Pelinka didn’t hesitate to pick Knecht despite those issues.
On Thursday, Buha had Pete Zayas, the Laker Film Room creator, on his podcast. Zayas responded when asked by the host about his bold prediction for the Lakers next season:
(47:43 mark):
“Dalton Knecht will be a top 5 bench scorer after the All-Star break. I love me some Dalton. That kid can score the crap out of the basketball, man.”
The top 5 off-the-bench scorers last season were Bogdan Bogdanovic, Malik Monk, Bennedict Mathurin, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Norman Powell. The youngest among them was Mathurin who was in his second year in the NBA. The Lakers will be thrilled if Dalton Knecht can reach that level in his first year in the pros.
For Zayas’ bold prediction to come true, Knecht has to average at least 25 minutes per game. Bogdanovic, Monk, Mathurin, Hardaway Jr. and Powell played more than 26 minutes per contest last season. It remains to be seen if new Lakers coach JJ Redick can give the rookie that much exposure.
Redick’s bench mob includes Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, Cam Reddish, Max Lewis, Jalen Hood-Schifino and Max Christie. Dalton Knecht will have to prove he deserves playing time over his more experienced teammates.
Dalton Knecht could be the LA Lakers’ X-factor next season, per Pete Zayas
Before Pete Zayas gave his bold prediction, he claimed the LA Lakers’ 2024 first-round pick to be the team’s X-factor. Here’s what the Laker Film Room creator had to say to back up his prediction:
(18:18 mark)
“Once he gets comfortable, I don’t wanna put too much pressure on him, but his skill set, I always wanted to put Klay [Thompson] with LeBron [James] and AD [Davis] back in Klay’s prime. That type of skill set beautifully balances out what LeBron and AD do.”
Rob Pelinka reportedly wanted to bring in Klay Thompson who eventually signed with the Dallas Mavericks. Thompson would have been another perimeter threat that defenses would have to pay attention to. Zayas sees Knecht fitting into that role seamlessly.
Dalton Knecht was a career 38.3% shooter in college, including a 39.7% clip in his final year before turning pro. He is also an underrated athlete with a 39-inch vertical leap. How Redick can utilize him will determine if he can get close to the bullish predictions Pete Zayas has for the rookie.