Dalton Knecht found himself in one of the most awkward NBA situations imaginable, forced to debut for the Lakers a second time after being dealt to Charlotte in a trade for Mark Williams that was ultimately rescinded.
“It was a crazy time,” Knecht said. “Not too many people have done that, come back [after being traded]. But at the end of the day, I just wanted to hoop.”
Knecht got that chance Wednesday night, scoring 10 points in the Lakers 131-119 loss to the Jazz in Utah.
Knecht hadn’t played since the Lakers dealt him to Charlotte a week ago, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka stopping the rookie midway through a shooting routine at the team’s facility to deliver him the news and send him on this whirlwind.
“It felt like a movie. After that [Clippers] game, I came back the next day and went to go get some shots up in the gym …and Rob called me up there and told me the news. It was hard,” Knecht said. “I got drafted here, so L.A. means a lot. So, hearing that and then I go to Charlotte in the morning with one of my guys and get introduced and start meeting all those people and then fly out to Detroit to what was called my ‘debut game,’ to then, now I’m flying back to L.A.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick, who said earlier this week that he spoke with Knecht, said that the organization is no longer thinking about what happened with the rescinded trade.
“I thought his spirit was good. I thought he played well,” Redick said Wednesday. “We’re not gonna talk about it anymore. We’ve talked about it. He’s in a good spot. We’re good.”
According to reports, Charlotte has considered ways to protest the Lakers decision to fail Williams in his physical.
“I had no clue, to be honest,” Knecht said when asked about a possible protest. “I’m just doing what I love to do, going out there and playing. And like I said, whatever happens, happens.”
Knecht, who will be in San Francisco this weekend to participate in the Rising Stars game on Friday, said it was good being back in the Lakers locker room Wednesday ahead of his return to action.
“I mean, every single one of them came up and pretty much hugged me and said, ‘What’s good?’ They said, ‘Welcome back.’ And then obviously tonight, they said, ‘It’s your debut game again,’ ” he said with a chuckle. “So at the end of the day, it’s just a business. I get where Rob and JJ were going. So, at the end of the day, it’s just going out there and doing my job and playing basketball and doing what I love to do.”