Lakers' perfect Dalton Knecht replacement sends clear message to Los Angeles after Knicks trade

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Lakers' perfect Dalton Knecht replacement sends clear message to Los Angeles after Knicks trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Entering the 2026 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers possessed the No. 25 overall pick in the first round of the event.

Wisely, though, Los Angeles traded their selection to the New York Knicks for the No. 24 overall pick.

The Lakers used the pick to select Cameron Carr, who, if all goes as planned, should provide the franchise with the production they've been missing from Dalton Knecht.

By the time the draft ended, the original two-team trade had evolved into a massive four-team deal that also involved the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns. On Tuesday, the Lakers' 6-foot-5 rookie guard sent a clear message to the franchise ahead of his first NBA season.

“Man, at the end of the day I start from ground zero,” Carr told the New York Post's Khobi Price. “I’m a rookie, so I got to come and prove everything: What I can be or what I can do. So first thing I’m gonna do is just try to be the best, most consistent dude I can defensively and not bring as many lapses. And when they rely on me, step up in those areas, especially defensively.”

Carr's Summer League contributions have already started to make the Knicks look foolish for shipping him to Los Angeles.

The 21-year-old’s promising off-the-dribble playmaking, pace, perimeter shooting, and do-it-all defense were on full display in the California Classic. Carr finished his first game in a Lakers uniform with 19 points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block while shooting 46.6% field and 45.4% from three-point land against the Golden State Warriors.

The Eden Prairie, Minnesota native followed up that impressive performance with a remarkable 26-point, eight-rebound, and one assist outing vs. the Miami Heat (he also connected on 43.7% of his field goals and 44.4% of his three-point jumpers).

Although Carr struggled a bit in his final California Classic game (he recorded five points, one rebound, one assist, one steal, and one block vs. the San Antonio Spurs while 28.5% from the field and 0% from three), his overall showing in the event was undoubtedly eye-opening and he'll receive more opportunities to impress during the upcoming Las Vegas Summer League.

More importantly, the third-team All-Big 12 contributor appears to have his head on straight and is willing to do whatever it takes to become a high-impact contributor on the title-seeking Lakers.

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