Full Breakdown
Dalton Knecht Joins Knicks on Two-Way Deal
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Knicks Sign Former Lakers First-Round Pick
The New York Knicks added former Los Angeles Lakers forward Dalton Knecht to a two-way NBA contract. The move was reported on October 23, 2026 and required the Knicks to waive forward Kevin McCullar Jr. to open a two-way roster spot. Knecht, a 25-year-old wing, becomes the Knicks’ third player on a two-way deal behind Tyler Nickel and Jaden Akins.
Background & Context
Knecht was selected No. 17 overall in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Lakers after a standout season at Tennessee, where he earned SEC Player of the Year honors and consensus first-team All-American recognition. The Lakers attempted to trade him to Charlotte in 2024-25, but the deal fell through after the incoming player failed a physical, leaving Knecht on the Lakers’ roster.
In 2024-25 Knecht appeared in 78 games, averaging 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.2 minutes per contest and shooting 37.6 % from three. The following season his production fell to 4.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game. The Lakers waived Knecht in mid-October 2026, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The Knicks, defending NBA champions, have used low-risk, high-upside moves on the roster margins in recent years, adding players such as Landy Shamet and Jose Alvarado on modest contracts.
Data & Statistics
- Career averages (132 games): 7.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, 0.7 assists.
- Rookie season (2024-25): 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 46.1 % FG, 37.6 % 3-pt.
- Second season (2025-26): 4.2 points, 1.1 rebounds, 10.2 minutes per game.
- Three-point shooting last season: 34.2 %.
- Defensive box-plus-minus: –1.7 and –1.6 over his first two seasons.
Official Statements & Responses
- Knecht’s representatives at Excel Sports Management confirmed the two-way signing to ESPN.
- NBA reporter Shams Charania broke the news.
- The Knicks’ roster move to waive Kevin McCullar Jr. was reported by SNY and Field Level Media.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Points per game: CBS Sports lists 9.1 points for the rookie season, LasportsReport cites 9.4, and Newsweek reports a career average of 7.1.
- Minutes per game: Reported as 19.2 minutes for the rookie year and 10.2 minutes for the second season; LasportsReport notes a 20.7-minute average before the trade attempt.
- No source details the Knicks’ specific on-court role for Knecht beyond depth provision.