Andy Backstrom Contributing writer Fri, October 23, 2026 at 4:05 PM UTC · 2 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dalton Knecht's NBA career got off to an auspicious start. The former Tennessee star looked like one of the biggest steals of the 2024 NBA Draft early in his rookie season , and he wound up averaging 9.1 points for a Los Angeles Lakers team that won 50 games in its first season under head coach JJ Redick.
But Knecht's role shrunk during his second go-around in L.A. And less than two and a half years after the Lakers took the forward 17th overall in the draft , they waived him. L.A. moved on from Knecht on Monday, a decision that secured roster spots for the likes of Bronny James and Jaden Hardy, and, four days later, Knecht found a new home.
Knecht, 25, has agreed to a two-way contract with the defending NBA champion New York Knicks, ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Friday .
Knecht appeared in 54 games last season, starting in only one contest along the way. His time on the court plunged from his rookie season, during which he recorded 19.2 minutes per game. As a second-year pro, Knecht was out there for 10.2 minutes per outing. He still shot north of 45% from the field, including above 34% from deep; however, it became clear that he likely wasn't going to factor into the Lakers' long-term plans.
They nearly traded him before the deadline last season.
A Lakers deal that would have sent the Charlotte Hornets Knecht and Cam Reddish — along with a 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap — was rescinded. Back then, it was reported that Williams failing a physical was the reason why the trade didn't go through. That said, Williams' agent questioned that failed physical and the Lakers' decision to cancel the deal .
L.A. was trying to pair Luka Dončić with a new center who could be his pick-and-roll partner. The Lakers eventually went bigger this past offseason when they acquired Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz in a sign-and-trade .
Knecht will get a fresh start in New York. Carving out a spot in the Knicks' rotation could prove difficult.
Perhaps his scoring chops, or simply his 3-point shooting, will come in handy for Mike Brown, who's shown that he's willing to go relatively deep into his bench over his first season-plus as New York's head coach.
Source: Sports
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