Charles Barkley rightfully ripped NBA GMs for letting Dalton Knecht fall to the Lakers

There’s not a full ton you tin study aft 1 NBA game. Especially if that crippled is nan play opener. Even much truthful if it’s nan Los Angeles Lakers’ location opener. And you tin propulsion retired beautiful overmuch each hype-based assumptions erstwhile it’s nan first clip LeBron James and Bronny James stock nan tribunal together arsenic pros.

That doesn’t mean you can’t study anything. For instance, Anthony Davis only needed 1 crippled to motorboat his Defensive Player of nan Year campaign. On TNT’s Inside The NBA, Charles Barkley only needed to spot 16 minutes from Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht to cognize nan remainder of nan convention screwed up by passing connected him successful nan draft.

“These NBA wide managers don’t person immoderate thought what they’re doing. Letting nan Lakers get Dalton Knecht was 1 of nan stupidest things I’ve ever seen. That’s a bad boy correct there. Dalton Knecht: retrieve that name, y’all.”

Charles Barkley connected @NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/aITD3kFb0r

— Josh Ward (@Josh_Ward) October 23, 2024

Anyone who watched Knecht astatine Tennessee past twelvemonth won’t beryllium amazed to perceive this benignant of praise. He was a certified bucket-getter for nan Vols, averaging 21.7 points while shooting 45.8 percent from nan level (39.7 percent from beyond nan arc). It judge seems for illustration that accomplishment is thing nan Lakers will person to trust on.

In Los Angeles’ 110-103 triumph complete nan Minnesota Timberwolves, Knecht (+7) was nan Lakers’ only chair subordinate pinch a affirmative plus/minus contempt sinking conscionable 2 of 4 changeable attempts for 5 points, 2 assists and a rebound.

But don’t salary attraction to nan numbers excessively overmuch connected this one. You request nan oculus test.

It’s clear caput coach JJ Redick likes what he sees from nan rookie and it’s not excessively early to presume Knecht will ace nan rotation if his changeable is falling —the only defender who played much minutes disconnected nan chair for nan Lakers connected Tuesday was Gabe Vincent (2 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists) — which intends Los Angeles whitethorn person fallen into a morganatic threat to triumph Rookie of nan Year (unlike that other rookie connected their chair everyone keeps betting on).

Never 1 to awkward distant from letting it alert during his career, Redick whitethorn beryllium nan cleanable coach for Knecht astatine this constituent successful his career. Meanwhile, nan Lakers are going to request personification to anchor their 2nd portion alongside Jaxson Hayes. That’s a tremendous opportunity for a 23-year-old successful Knecht, who is already much built for nan pros than immoderate of nan different rookies successful his class.

It surely helps that nan Lakers play connected nationalist tv 38 times this play including their NBATV appearances. That’s much than capable surface clip for voters to get to spot Knecht successful action and commencement building a communicative astir his play.

Knecht was +1600 astatine BetMGM to triumph Rookie of nan Year past week. After opening night, he’s moved to +1200 — tied for nan sixth-best likelihood connected nan board.

Expect those likelihood to get a small spot shorter successful nan coming weeks if Knecht establishes himself successful nan Lakers’ rotation. That will guarantee him nan 2 things each ROY campaigner craves: Opportunity and eyeballs.