Dalton Knecht has received a fresh opportunity to revive his NBA career after parting ways with the Los Angeles Lakers. The New York Knicks have agreed to a two-way contract with the former Lakers forward, waiving Kevin McCullar Jr. to make room for him. Knicks head coach Mike Brown is hoping the team’s gamble on the former first-round pick will pay off.
Following the Knicks’ 111-102 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday, Brown addressed the decision to waive McCullar Jr. to accommodate Knecht.
“It wasn't anything that Kevin didn't do; he was great,” Brown said. “It was more so having the opportunity to bring a guy like Dalton on just to get to know him a little bit better.”
Knecht entered the NBA with high expectations after the Lakers selected him with the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The former Tennessee standout averaged 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds per game across 78 appearances during his rookie season.
However, his production declined considerably during his second season. Knecht averaged just 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds across 54 games during the 2025-26 season, playing approximately 10.2 minutes per game.
Now, Knecht's move to New York gives him a chance to rebuild his confidence and prove he can become a consistent contributor at the NBA level. The former Lakers forward also believes that joining the Knicks is the right move for his career.
Article Continues Below“It just felt like the best opportunity,” Knecht said. “I talked to the coaching staff, knew them for a while, so it was good. Thought this would be a great fit, and I’m excited to be here.”
Meanwhile, things have not gone according to plan for the Knicks, who entered the season as the defending NBA champions. Sunday's defeat dropped them to 0-3. The Knicks will now look to turn things around quickly and hope their gamble on Knecht pays off.