The Knicks are making room for a Lakers draft pick.
The team signed Dalton Knecht to a two-year contract Friday morning, ESPN.com reported.
Knecht, a 2024 first-round pick, was among the Lakers’ final roster cuts this week after seeing his minutes decline sharply in his second season.
The former Tennessee sharpshooter had a promising start to his career in Los Angeles, averaging 9.1 points per game on 37 percent 3-point shooting in his rookie year.
The 25-year-old seemed to fall out of favor with Lakers coach JJ Redick, however, and he was an afterthought on the bench during the Lakers’ two playoff series against the Rockets and Thunder – totaling 18 minutes in five games.
“Every moment, every lesson and every opportunity has helped me grow not only as a player but also as a person,” Knecht wrote in a farewell letter to Lakers fans.
“Things don’t always go the way we hope, and sometimes life takes us in a different direction. Leaving this chapter behind is never easy, but I will always be grateful for the opportunity to represent one of the greatest franchises in NBA history. The love, support and memories will always mean something special to me.”
The Knicks have waived Kevin McCullar Jr. to make room for Knecht, according to multiple reports. McCullar Jr. had spent the last two seasons with the team, playing in 25 games total and averaging 2.2 points per game.
Center James Wiseman, a former No. 2 overall draft pick, landed the Knicks’ final spot after an impressive camp and preseason. The team appears to have confidence in Wiseman, 25, who is developing after disappointing runs with the Warriors, Pistons and Pacers.
Gn sports
