Red hot rookie Dalton Knecht has played and shot so well since replacing injured Rui Hachimura in the Lakers’ starting lineup that head coach JJ Redick is going to have a hard time keeping him out of the starting lineup.
In the three games he started in place of Hachimura, Knecht averaged 26.0 points and 5.0 rebounds while making 16 of his 26 threes for a 61.5% shooting percentage from deep on a volume of 8.7 attempts per game. Knecht also showed everybody that his game is not just limited to volume 3-point attempts. During these three games, Dalton also averaged 1.0 steals and 0 turnovers despite posting a team 3rd best solid 20.3% usage rate.
While Hachimura has played and shot well as a starter, Dalton brings a juggernaut level of firepower to the starting lineup that the Lakers simply have never had and which catapults their starting lineup to another level.
Knecht not only showed he could hold his own as a starter but also proved he was exactly the type of elite high volume 3-point shooter the Lakers have desperately needed to complement LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
With their other volume 3-point shooter D’Angelo Russell moving to the bench, the Lakers would be smart to keep Dalton Knecht in the starting lineup to provide the volume 3-point shooting Russell used to provide.
The Lakers fully understand what they have in Knecht and know their major development priority should be to keep him in the starting lineup to accelerate his development and take best advantage of his great skillset.
The Lakers’ challenge in keeping Dalton Knecht in the starting lineup is what position does he play, who starts with him in the backcourt, and what other starting lineup changes should Lakers make to optimize the rookie?
I think it will depend on his defense. I do think his minutes will increase a lot, even if he comes off the bench.
No matter who they choose as starters, I’m just hoping for a strong bench.
I think this riddle starts and ends with DLo. If he becomes a bench player l, barring injury, it makes sense to insert DK4 into the starting 5 to help maintain spacing.
But if DLo ends up back with the starters I think you have pair him w/Hachimura or Cam with Rui being the far superior choice. Reaves ain’t coming off the bench, Lakers see him as a really important piece moving forward.
Starting Russell is obviously the preferred way forward from the DLo camp and one has to wonder if they give him every opportunity to succeed there could it come at the expense of winning. The West is and will continue to be tight. Young teams are getting better (Spurs/Rockets), old threats aren’t going anywhere and GS has re-emerged really fast. We can’t afford to let a bunch of games slip away in the name of “We Want to Help DLo!”. It’s a nice sentiment but that don’t win games.
The last thing to consider is how it affects Rui who will be back soon. His starter/bench splits are waaaay better starting. You don’t want to create a net loss scenario in the name of development. This is still a really small sample size and against bad teams at that.
Lastly Ivthink Michael’s point is a good one: it’s going to come down to defense, the area we are struggling mightily in right now. Rui is, by far, the better defender. He plays his role well. A lineup of AD, LBJ, Rui, Cam/Vando, and Reaves has a ton of two way potential.
In the end, I expect the choice to be results-driven. So tonight is a good game for DK to show he can be a part of a great defense. I ain’t worried a lick about the offense.