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The Knicks are making room for a Lakers castoff.
The team signed Dalton Knecht to a two-year deal on Friday morning, ESPN.com reported.
Knecht, a first-round pick in 2024, was part of the Lakers’ final roster cuts this week after seeing his minutes sharply decrease in his second season.
The former Tennessee sharpshooter had a promising start to his career in LA, averaging 9.1 point per game on 37% 3-point shooting his rookie year.
The 25-year-old seemed to fall out of favor with Lakers coach JJ Redick, though, and he was an afterthought off the bench during the Lakers’ two playoff series against the Rockets and Thunder — totaling 18 minutes across five games.
“Every moment, every lesson, and every opportunity helped me grow not only as a player but also as a person,” Knecht wrote in a good-bye letter to Lakers fans.
“Things may not always go the way we expect, 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, the support, and the memories will always mean something special to me.”
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The Knicks waived Kevin McCullar Jr. to make room for Knecht, according to multiple reports. McCullar Jr. had spent the past two seasons with the team, playing in 25 total games and averaging 2.2 points per game.
Center James Wiseman, a former No. 2 draft pick, snagged the Knicks’ final roster spot after an impressive camp and preseason. The team appears to have faith in Wiseman, 25, developing after disappointing runs with the Warriors, Pistons and Pacers.
