Grading Every NBA Team's 2024 NBA Draft Performance Including Trades | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
James Holden Dalton Knecht (No. 17); Bronny James (No. 55)
On the strength of their first-rounder alone, the Los Angeles Lakers would have gotten an A here. Dalton Knecht is 23, but slipping outside the lottery was a bit of a shock for the player who may be this class' best scorer.
By the time he was taken by the Lakers on Night 1, it was pretty easy to think back on Jaime Jaquez Jr. falling to the Miami Heat last year.
Like Jaquez, Knecht just has a solid feel for the game, bona fide NBA size for a wing and the ability to score at all three levels. He could play for the Lakers right away.
The grade has to come down a bit, though. We knew it was coming. ESPN spent much of its broadcast of the second round preparing the audience (or, perhaps more accurately, selling the audience). And though no one picked at No. 55 has ever been anywhere near a sure thing, Bronny James might be a bit more of a risk than others taken there.
His offensive numbers in college for USC (4.8 points, while shooting 48.1 percent on twos, 26.7 percent from three and 67.6 percent from the line) were dreadful, and he underwent heart surgery less than a year ago.
If helping LeBron James fulfill his dream of playing with his son is the driving factor here, that's a lot to look past.
On the other hand, Bronny had a respectable showing at the combine, and he may develop into a decent defender. NBA coaching and development staffs will undoubtedly help.
But every roster spot is critical for teams ostensibly in the hunt for titles.