LA Lakers star Austin Reaves has excessive hopes for the 2025-26 season, because the staff heads into an important rebuilding interval.
After ending the 2024-25 common season because the third seed, the LA Lakers‘ hopes of a deep postseason run have been excessive.
These goals got here crashing down with a actuality examine when the staff misplaced their opening playoff sequence 4-1 to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Lakers now head into free company eager to deal with their weaknesses that have been cruelly uncovered within the loss.
One participant who didn’t get a run of video games within the playoffs was Dalton Knecht, who performed in simply two of the 5 video games, at a mean of two minutes.
Regardless of this lack of religion from his head coach, teammate Austin Reaves believes Knecht is the participant to look at subsequent season.
Austin Reaves spoke to Trevor Lane in an offseason interview and gave his prediction for the LA Lakers participant to look at in 2025-26.
Reaves didn’t hesitate to call Dalton Knecht, explaining that he understands he has been placing within the work forward of his sophomore season.
He stated: “I acquired Dalton. I’ve heard that he’s been locked in for the final two, three weeks in LA understanding two, 3 times a day.
“His expertise degree is certainly there.”
Reaves says that he noticed Knecht changing into inquisitive concerning the season because it went on, and views this as a optimistic signal.
He stated: “He began to ask questions and be curious, the place early within the yr he wasn’t.
“I bear in mind after the Chicago recreation that Josh Giddey hit the half-court shot, we was sitting within the locker room simply me and him, and he checked out me and stated ‘what do I have to do to get on the court docket?’.
“I went by means of my complete spiel of issues you are able to do, however it’s little issues like that, there’s lots for him to be taught, the expertise’s there.”
Knecht truly performed in essentially the most video games of any LA Lakers participant final season with 78. However solely 16 as a starter.
Dalton Knecht performed fewer minutes following the Luka Doncic commerce, and regardless of JJ Redick predicting he might be a playoff recreation winner, the coach didn’t give him an opportunity.
The fact is heading into subsequent season, Dalton Knecht might be traded away, regardless of his promising rookie season.
Knecht was even traded as soon as, despatched midseason to the Charlotte Hornets, till the Mark Williams aspect of the commerce was rescinded.
This was a troublesome psychological state of affairs for Knecht to course of, however his return to the Lakers might be shortlived, with the staff nonetheless on the hunt for a middle.
The necessity to make a commerce will rely on what the Lakers are able to in free company. In relation to trades, the staff have restricted property, and different franchises know he’s obtainable, with Rob Pelinka already making clear that he intends to make strikes.
Even Austin Reaves himself just isn’t secure, linked away in commerce rumors. He intends to remain put, however within the NBA, you by no means know.
