The Knicks are among the teams interested in Dalton Knecht following his release by the Lakers, according to Ian Begley of SNY.
Knecht is eligible for a two-way contract, giving teams a chance to add the former first-round pick without using a standard roster spot. The Timberwolves have also been linked to Knecht, with Begley noting that Marc Stein previously reported Minnesota’s interest.
The Lakers waived Knecht ahead of the regular season after exploring trades, ending his time with the franchise after two seasons. His departure brought Los Angeles to the 15-man standard roster limit.
Selected No. 17 overall in the 2024 draft, Knecht arrived from Tennessee with a reputation as a scorer who could provide immediate perimeter shooting. He showed flashes as a rookie but struggled to secure a consistent role under coach JJ Redick.
Knecht, 25, averaged 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.2 minutes across 51 appearances last season, shooting 34.2 percent from three-point range.
His Lakers tenure also included the rescinded February 2025 trade that would have sent him to the Hornets for Mark Williams. Knecht returned to Los Angeles after that deal fell through, but his second season failed to produce a larger role.
For the Knicks, the appeal would be a relatively inexpensive opportunity to develop a shooter just two years removed from being a first-round selection. Knecht would get another chance to turn his college scoring success into a more dependable NBA role.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
