Dalton Knecht to Play in G League to Revitalize Career

Dalton Knecht, a former first-round NBA draft pick, will begin his quest for redemption in the G League, according to Knicks head coach Mike Brown. Knecht has been assigned to the Westchester Knicks to gain game experience, with the team prioritizing his playing time over him sitting on the bench.

"We want him to play as much as he can," Brown stated. "So he’s gonna play some games with Westchester. If we need him to play games with us, we’ll do that. I’d rather him play than be around us too much and sit."

Knecht signed a two-way contract with the Knicks on Friday night and was available for Sunday's game against the Magic. His move to the Knicks follows his release by the Lakers, who drafted him 17th overall in 2024. Despite being named to the 2025 Rising Stars Challenge during his time with the Lakers, his playing time and production diminished significantly after the team acquired Luka Dončić. An earlier trade attempt to send Knecht to the Hornets for Mark Williams fell through when Williams failed his physical.

"I don’t think nothing changed. I think the team just got changed and that was it," Knecht commented on his career downturn. "Still loved my time that I was there. No hard feelings; on to better things."

The Knicks are taking a low-risk approach, hoping Knecht can recapture the form that led him to be a top draft pick and the player who scored 27 and 37 points in consecutive wins with the Lakers.

"We’ll take it day by day to see how quickly he picks up on the offense and the defense," Brown said. "And, and then, if there’s a need to throw him out there [with the senior Knicks], I won’t hesitate to throw him out there."

To make room for Knecht, the Knicks waived Kevin McCullar Jr., their second-round pick from 2024. McCullar, who spent two seasons with the team but was often hampered by injuries, is considered an NBA player who will likely get another opportunity.

"[McCullar has] been here three seasons as a two-way player, so we have a pretty good feel for him," Brown explained. "He has a good feel for us, and this is about getting to know a guy like Dalton Knecht at this point of the year. It’s something that we need to take a look at. So it wasn’t anything that Kevin didn’t do. He was great, and he is an NBA player, and I think he’s gonna get a shot down the road."

Knecht joins a Knicks backcourt that includes Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson, all of whom are known for their three-point shooting. McBride recently scored 20 points in a loss to the Celtics, stepping up when starter Mikal Bridges was benched due to offensive struggles.

"[McBride] played great. He’s one of the reasons we were still in the game," said Jalen Brunson. "Without him doing what he was doing, it might’ve been a worse outcome. He came in ready to go and helped us."