Dalton Knecht discovered himself in probably the most awkward NBA conditions, enjoying for the once more after being dealt to Charlotte in a commerce that .
“It was a loopy time,” Knecht mentioned. “Not too many individuals have accomplished that, come again [after being traded]. However on the finish of the day, I simply wished to hoop.”
Knecht obtained that likelihood Wednesday evening, scoring 10 factors within the in Utah. He hadn’t performed since Feb. 4 in opposition to the Clippers. Then the Lakers packaged him in a commerce for Hornets heart Mark Williams earlier than the deadline, basic supervisor Rob Pelinka stopping the rookie halfway by means of a capturing routine on the group’s facility to ship him the information and ship him on this whirlwind.
“It felt like a film. After that [Clippers] recreation, I got here again the subsequent day and went to go get some photographs up within the fitness center … and Rob known as me up there and advised me the information. It was exhausting,” Knecht mentioned. “I obtained drafted right here, so L.A. means loads. So, listening to that after which I’m going to Charlotte within the morning with certainly one of my guys and get launched and begin assembly all these folks after which fly out to Detroit to what was known as my ‘debut recreation,’ to then, now I’m flying again to L.A.”
Coach JJ Redick praised Knecht and mentioned the group not is considering the rescinded commerce.
“His spirit was good. I believed he performed nicely,” Redick mentioned. “We’re not gonna discuss it anymore. We’ve talked about it. He’s in a great place. We’re good.”
Charlotte reportedly has thought of methods to protest the Lakers’ determination to fail Williams in his bodily, which led to the commerce being rescinded.
“I had no clue, to be trustworthy,” Knecht mentioned when requested a few doable protest. “I’m simply doing what I like to do, going on the market and enjoying. And like I mentioned, no matter occurs, occurs.”
Knecht, who might be at All-Star Weekend in San Francisco to take part within the Rising Stars recreation Friday, mentioned it was good being again within the Lakers locker room.
“Each single certainly one of them got here up and just about hugged me and mentioned, ‘What’s good?’ They mentioned, ‘Welcome again.’ After which clearly tonight, they mentioned, ‘It’s your debut recreation once more,’ ” he mentioned with a chuckle. “So on the finish of the day, it’s only a enterprise. I get the place Rob and JJ have been going. So, on the finish of the day, it’s simply going on the market and doing my job and enjoying basketball and doing what I like to do.”
