The 2024 first-round pick saw his role shrink in Los Angeles before New York scooped him up.
The Knicks signed Dalton Knecht on Friday morning after the Lakers cut him loose in their final roster trims this week, according to ESPN.com. Reports differ on the contract terms, with some describing a two-year deal and others a two-way contract.
Knecht, 25, was a first-round pick out of Tennessee in 2024 and looked like a find early on, averaging 9.1 points per game on 37% 3-point shooting as a rookie. But his minutes dried up in year two under Lakers coach JJ Redick, and he barely played in the postseason, totaling 18 minutes across five games as the Lakers were eliminated across their two playoff series against the Rockets and Thunder.
New York's move fits a pattern for the Knicks, who have lately tried to find value in young players who didn't stick with their original teams. Knecht reflected on his time in Los Angeles, writing that "every moment, every lesson, and every opportunity helped me grow not only as a player but also as a person."