Dalton Knecht's Summer League Struggles Raise Concerns for Second-Year Jump with Lakers

Dalton Knecht, a second-year player for the Lakers, had a challenging summer league, failing to build momentum after previously struggling in the California Classic. In Las Vegas, he averaged just 10.3 points on a low 27.9% shooting, which observers note does not inspire confidence for a significant Year 2 improvement within a veteran-heavy Lakers rotation. His current performance contrasts sharply with his past college scoring prowess and the high expectations surrounding him as a lottery-projected pick who ultimately fell to No. 17 in the draft, with some attributing his decline since a botched trade involving the Hornets.