After a promising rookie campaign and a rough sophomore run, the Lakers waived Dalton Knecht. While the Sacramento Kings have no shortage of wings, and definitely need another point guard first, there is a case to be made for signing him to a two-way contract for future development.
If everyone is being honest with themselves, no one was surprised that the Lakers parted ways with Knecht. They tried to trade him to the Hornets during his first season. That fell through because Charlotte's Mark Williams didn't pass his physical. Then, things got weird for Knecht.
Up until that point, he had been having a respectable rookie season with strong signs of future development. Finding out the Lakers wanted to trade him seemed like it messed with his head a bit. He just didn't play the same from the failed trade throughout the rest of his time with the team.
As the roster changed through his second season and into the offseason, it really felt like Knecht was getting left further and further behind. When the Lakers couldn't trade him, they instead chose to eat his contract and take the hit on his salary. Once he clears waivers, Knecht is a full-on UFA.
Scooping Knecht up now would be for the Kings' future
Knecht is a small forward and shooting guard who cannot play point guard. That's unfortunate as Sacramento needs another PG more than they need more wings. As it stands right now, nine of their players are either or both shooting guards and small forwards. They're good on the wings...for now.
By the end of this season, Zach LaVine, De'Andre Hunter, Ben Simmons, and Malik Monk may all be gone from the roster. That removes a big chunk of the logjam at SG and SF, and in turn creates space for someone like Knecht. Signing him to a two-way contract now gets him ready for next season.
Sacramento also has a regular roster spot available, but that has to be saved for another dedicated point guard to backup Darius Acuff Jr. If the Kings aren't going to do that for some insane reason, then that spot should go to Jonathan Mogbo. He has more than earned that promotion.
Knecht has the distance shooting to make floor space for Acuff to operate or play off the offense run through Domantas Sabonis. He might not be much of a defender, but that could change with further development. Bringing him on board now is all about planning for the future, anyway,
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