When there were whispers that the Miami Heat were interested in exploring Andrew Wiggins' trade market, Dalton Knecht was one player that they were linked to. And now that Knecht has officially been waived by the Los Angeles Lakers, the Heat could make their reclamation dream finally come true.
Despite being selected 17th overall by the Lakers in the 2024 NBA Draft, Knecht has had a pretty uninspiring start to his NBA careeer. And after being cut by the Lakers, he certainly finds himself at a crossroads.
After two seasons with the Lakers, Knecht never grew into a specific role for Los Angeles. He had his moments and was still a proven 3-point shooter, but it was clearly time for a change. You'd have to assume this path, no matter how difficult it may have been, was probably best for both sides.
Could Dalton Knecht fit as a reclamation project in Miami?
The question is, what's next for Knecht, and how could the Heat factor into that?
It remains to be seen whether the Heat would be willing to use their 15th and final roster spot on Knecht, but he could be an interesting option on the eve of the 2026-27 regular season. In theory, Knecht is the type of reclamation project that Miami usually targets.
He was a high draft pick and never formally developed. He has a clear skill as a potential 3-point marksman. There are certainly questions about his defensive capabilities and about whether he has enough athletic ability to earn a consistent spot in an NBA rotation, but that has never stopped the Heat in the past.
Could a player like Duncan Robinson be the blueprint in the Heat's developmental system for Knecht? There are some similarities, and especially with how Miami's roster is currently built, it could benefit this team to take a flyer on Knecht's shooting abilities.
At the very least, it's a conversation that the front office should be willing to have, especially if the whispers last season were accurate about how they were intrigued by the idea of trading for him.
A lot has changed in the last few months, but if the Heat truly believes in their developmental system, taking a chance on a player like Knecht wouldn't be all that surprising. As the start of the regular season quickly approaches, it's certainly one more thing for this front office to navigate.
If the Heat is looking for an intriguing reclamation project and a way to fill their final roster spot, there may not be a better option currently on the table than Knecht. And if their past interest in him was accurate, maybe the Heat does take a closer look.
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