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Former Tennessee basketball star Dalton Knecht is signing two-way contract with the New York Knicks, according to a report from ESPN's Shams Charania on Oct. 23.
Knecht's deal with the Knicks follows the Los Angeles Lakers waiving the 6-foot-6 wing on Oct. 19, the day before the 2026-27 season began. The Lakers, which drafted him in 2024, weren't able to reach a deal to trade Knecht and opted to waive him to cut the roster to 15 contracts.
But it didn't take long for Knecht to find a new home in the league, agreeing to a deal four days later with the reigning NBA champions.
Los Angeles almost traded Knecht during the 2024-25 season in a package with Cam Reddish and draft compensation to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams. But the Lakers rescinded the trade after Williams failed a physical with the organization.
Knecht averaged 4.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game in his second season with the Lakers.
The former Northern Colorado standout transferred to play for the Vols for the 2023-24 season and became a star at Tennessee. He was the 2024 SEC Player of the Year and a consensus first-team All-American, and then he made history as the highest-drafted player under coach Rick Barnes. Knecht was the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.