Lakers’ Dalton Knecht Gets His Shot at Being Back in Rotation
Introduction to Dalton Knecht’s Opportunity
LOS ANGELES — With his team going through an offensive slump – though not as bad as the defensive slide in December – Lakers coach JJ Redick assured that second-year wing Dalton Knecht would get a look in Friday night’s home game against the Memphis Grizzlies. And for the foreseeable future, with the Lakers remaining short-handed in light of absences from Austin Reaves (calf), Rui Hachimura (calf), Gabe Vincent (back) and Adou Thiero (knee).
The Lakers’ Offensive Slump
Overshadowed by their defense ranking 29th in the NBA in December, the Lakers’ offense also dropped off significantly last month. They were No. 18 in offensive rating last month, scoring 114.2 points per 100 possessions, after ranking No. 5 at 118.9 points per 100 possessions in October and November.
Expectations for Dalton Knecht
But Redick made it clear that Knecht isn’t being returning to the rotation purely for his scoring production. Or to help boost a Lakers team that shot 33.9% (No. 25 in the league) from 3-point range in December, with Knecht shooting 37.3% from being the arc so far in his career. Redick made it known that more will be required for Knecht to stick in the rotation when the Lakers get healthier.
Coach Redick’s Emphasis
“Play hard – that’s been the biggest playing emphasis for him all season,” Redick said. “He’s not going to be judged on whether he makes or misses shots. That helps. When you go through a stretch and you feel like your team isn’t playing hard, you got to play the guys that are consistently playing hard. Redick added: “He had some really good moments already this season. And I think for him, probably the next week or so, he’s going to have consistent playing time and consistent opportunities.”
Status Update
Redick said that Vincent, who hasn’t played since Dec. 14 because of a lumbar back strain, will hopefully be a modified participant in Saturday’s practice but won’t play in Sunday night’s rematch against the Grizzlies at Crypto.com Arena. The hope is that the veteran guard will be able to play either in Tuesday’s road game against the New Orleans Pelicans or Wednesday against the San Antonio Spurs, but that hadn’t been determined as of Friday. “We’ve got to get him exposure to live play,” Redick said. “And with the travel day on Monday, that’s gonna be tough.”
Two-Way Impact
Grizzlies center Christian Koloko, who was with the Lakers on a two-way contract the previous two seasons, started on Friday in light of Memphis’ frontcourt injuries. Koloko, who signed a second 10-day contract with the Grizzlies, made the first start of his NBA career in Memphis’ loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. The 6-foot-11 Cameroonian big man played in five straight games for Memphis entering Friday. The Lakers waived him from his two-way deal, which he signed in October 2024, in late November. “I really appreciate Christian’s contributions to our team,” Redick said. “Similar to this year, we were asking a lot of a couple of two-way guys, Trey [Jemison] last year, eventually [Jordan Goodwin], who were a big part of helping us win ball games. When he’s able to run and crash without physicality, he can be really impactful. He can be impactful as a rim defender as well.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dalton Knecht’s opportunity to get back into the rotation is a significant one, given the Lakers’ current short-handed situation. With emphasis from Coach Redick on playing hard and consistent opportunities ahead, Knecht has the chance to prove himself. The status of other players, like Gabe Vincent, and the impact of two-way players like Christian Koloko, will also be important factors in the team’s dynamics moving forward.
FAQs
- Q: Why is Dalton Knecht getting a chance to be back in the rotation?
A: Knecht is getting a chance due to the Lakers’ short-handed situation with several players out due to injuries. - Q: What is Coach Redick’s emphasis for Dalton Knecht?
A: Coach Redick emphasizes the importance of playing hard, rather than just focusing on scoring production. - Q: What is the status of Gabe Vincent?
A: Gabe Vincent is hoped to be a modified participant in Saturday’s practice but won’t play in Sunday’s rematch against the Grizzlies. - Q: Who is Christian Koloko and what is his current role?
A: Christian Koloko is a center who was with the Lakers on a two-way contract and is now playing for the Grizzlies, where he recently made his first NBA start.
