The Los Angeles Lakers have entered something of a panicked state in the aftermath of Summer League. Bronny James showed clear signs of progress on the offensive end of the floor, but 2024 first-round draft pick Dalton Knecht seemed to display elements of regression.
For as concerning as the latter development may be, there’s one simple reason the Lakers shouldn’t panic: This is exactly what Summer League is designed for.
No player is going to establish momentum in July and maintain it all the way until the regular season begins in October. Expecting that to transpire is tantamount to believing that a player who plays well in November has officially revealed what they’ll be doing in February.
It’s simply unrealistic, especially when one considers the fact that participants enter Summer League under drastically different circumstances.
In no way is this meant to suggest that Knecht struggling should be written off as meaningless. Instead, it’s an attempt to highlight the importance and value of his underwhelming showing as fuel to a fire that needed to rage.
Knecht has months of preparation ahead of him before the 2025-26 season begins, and he now knows exactly what he needs to work on to make a statement at training camp.
Summer League is about identifying strengths and weaknesses
The fact that Knecht struggled in July may be the ultimate blessing in disguise. It would’ve been significantly more difficult for JJ Redick and his development team to help him improve in key areas of weakness had the 24-year-old shown up to training camp facing the issues he’s currently battling.
Instead of having to simultaneously work with Knecht on his shortcomings and find a way to integrate him into an evolving system, the weaknesses that need to be addressed are now known and identified in July.
Yes, it would’ve been more ideal to see Knecht, a second-year player who’s older than most in his class, dominate Summer League. This is the same player, after all, who posted two 30-point games and seven 20-point outings despite limited playing time during his rookie season in the NBA.
The silver lining, however, doesn’t require much optimism. It’s a simple fact that Knecht was always going to have something to work on this summer—and now he knows what it is.
Knecht forced the issue at Summer League, attempting to shoot through his slump instead of finding other ways to contribute. It was the epitomization of why Redick’s rotation often excluded one of the best scorers on the team.
Knecht can get hot, stay hot, and torch opposing defenses at all three levels, but if he wants regular playing time, then he’ll need to figure out how to help when his shot isn’t falling.
If the issues Knecht experienced at Summer League continue into training camp and the preseason, then panic would be far more rational. At this stage, however, the value of Summer League has simply been revealed to a player who will benefit from learning what needs to change sooner than later.
It may not have been a pleasant experience for Knecht or an enjoyable watch for fans, but Summer League may have saved one of the Lakers’ most promising players from a wasted season.
