Lakers have finally found their floor-spacer with Dalton Knecht

Since James came to the Lakers in 2018-19, L.A.’s front office has made it their mission to complete the prototypical LeBron team blueprint, which is surrounding him with excellent long-range weapons to create driving lanes and maximize his playmaking. 

Finding a consistent 40% three-point shooting free agent has proven to be a near-impossible task for the Lakers.

Here’s a breakdown based on three-point percentage:

2020-21:

• Ben McLemore: 36.8%
• Wesley Matthews: 33.5%
• Jared Dudley: 33.3%
• Markieff Morris: 31.1%

2021-22: 

• Malik Monk: 39.1%
• Wayne Ellington: 38.9%
• Carmelo Anthony: 37.5%
• Kent Bazemore: 36.3%

2022-23: 

• Troy Brown Jr.: 38.1%
• Lonnie Walker IV: 36.5%
• Malik Beasley: 35.3%
• Patrick Beverley: 34.8% (67% of his playing time was at SG with the Lakers)

2023-24:

• Taurean Prince: 39.6%
• Cam Reddish: 33.6%
• Christian Wood: 30.7% (51% of his playing time was at PF with the Lakers)

When joining the Lakers, most incoming shooters fail to grasp the intensity they’ll face every night, amplified by a schedule that consistently leads the league in nationally televised games. The team's massive international fan base ensures that every contest draws global attention. 

For small-market teams like the Pistons, Wizards, Hornets, Jazz and Hawks, who may only get one or two nationally televised games per season, facing L.A. is a marquee event. These squads circle the date on their calendars, determined to shine under the brightest lights they’ll see all year. This means there are no easy contests for players on the Lakers. Just more juice. More pressure. More chaos.

Knecht possesses all the hallmarks of a great shooter: a high release, impeccable footwork, exceptional balance and a knack for navigating the perimeter to create space for his jumper. Yet, his relentless confidence truly sets him apart from the Lakers’ past shooting imports. He’s one of those rare, stone-cold scorers.

It’s telling that after the Jazz contest, head coach JJ Redick, in his post-game news conference along with Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis in the locker room, used the exact same word to describe Knecht: “fearless.”

Knecht, for his part, didn’t mince words either.

The Lakers face a tough test Thursday night against an Orlando Magic squad boasting the second-rated defense in the league (104.6 defensive rating). Their rotation of long, quick wings is sure to zero in on Knecht, determined to shut down the rookie blowing up all the major sports talk shows. But that’s precisely what L.A. wants. 

By forcing opponents to focus on Knecht, the James offensive blueprint comes to life. Suddenly, Davis can operate with more freedom in the paint, Reaves finds more openings to exploit and James has more room to attack the basket. That will elevate this Lakers squad toward the most potent offensive attack in the NBA. That’s a pick-your-poison machine that could lead to a deep playoff run, all because of the gravitational pull of a rookie sharpshooter who isn’t afraid of the Hollywood bright lights.