Major Lakers problem under Rob Pelinka can't be ignored after Dalton Knecht release

After appearing in 78 games (16 starts) and averaging 9.1 points per game on 46.1 percent shooting (37.6 percent on three-pointers) during the 2024-25 regular season, Knecht was a non-factor in a first-round playoff series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, only playing in two of the five games and averaging two minutes per game. His playing time dropped significantly last season, with head coach JJ Redick giving Knecht only 10.2 minutes per game (down from 19.2 minutes as a rookie). He also racked up 26 DNPs (Did Not Play).

As ESPN NBA reporter Dave McMenamin noted, Knecht did himself no favors during the preseason when shooting an ugly 25 percent, including 14.3 percent from beyond the arc, in 11.9 minutes per game.

Redick alluded to Knecht's fate before a recent preseason game, explaining the difficulties in finding meaningful playing time for the former first-rounder due to an evolving roster. When initially selected, Los Angeles was still building around a core of LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Last offseason, Pelinka signed forward Jake LaRavia to a two-year, $12M contract. In July, he added forward Quentin Grimes to a four-year, $60M deal and guard Collin Sexton on a two-year, $19M deal. With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves commanding the starting guard spots, Knecht was the clear odd man out on the perimeter.

"The team changed," Redick said, per McMenamin. "The needs changed, the fit changed... We added a lot of wings, and he's in a tough spot right now."

With better drafting from Pelinka, the Lakers may not have wasted one of their few first-rounders this decade. Orlando Magic forward Tristan Da Silva, chosen one pick after Knecht, has carved out a valuable role with 72 career starts. After last year's All-Star break, he averaged 12.1 points per game on 48.2 percent shooting (38.6 percent on threes).

Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Jaylon Tyson (No. 20 overall) and New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi (No. 21 overall) could have also been better options at that spot, but instead, Knecht joins guard Jalen Hood-Schifino, who last played during the 2024-25 season, in Pelinka's small class of first-round draft busts.

The longtime Lakers general manager hasn't had many opportunities thanks to some high-profile trades, including acquiring Davis from the Pelicans in June 2019 while giving up the rights to four first-round picks.

Pelinka traded a 2020 first for Dennis Schroder, followed the next offseason by a deal sending the No. 22 overall pick to the Washington Wizards for Russell Westbrook.

With so little capital, the Lakers haven't had many opportunities to build through the draft, which has become even more important to team-building with the implementation of the first and second aprons. 

But when he has had the opportunity, Pelinka has failed to do anything worthwhile with his selections. In an ultra-competitive Western Conference, those failures make a huge difference.