Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty ImagesIt did not take long for new Los Angeles Lakers coach J.J. Redick to get on board with his team's first-round pick.
The Lakers selected Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht with the No. 17 pick in the NBA draft on Wednesday. Following the selection, Lakers vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka spoke with reporters and expressed Redick's enthusiasm for setting up Knecht for success.
"He was already at his whiteboard drawing up pindowns and ATO and actions where he could run a movement shooter off screen," Pelinka said. "I think his mind is already working on drawing up plays for Dalton."
Knecht averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 36 games for the Volunteers. He helped lead the team to the Elite Eight, and he was named SEC Player of the Year, NCAA All-Region and was a consensus All-American.
He is a strong shooter and will join a Lakers team that is trying to move up in the Western Conference. The Lakers went 47-35 and lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
This led to the firing of head coach Darvin Ham and the eventual hiring of Redick, who is in his first coaching assignment at any professional level. However, he is a 15-year NBA veteran and a former collegiate star. He could relate to Knecht with that similarity.
From Pelinka's statement, it appears Redick is already off to a good start.
ncG1vNJzZmianJqupLTEq6meqJ%2BnwW%2BvzqZmmqqknrCtsdJoaGlpYmt%2Fd4WMr6CdnZ9iuaK3xKuqZqCTYreredGem6Kbm2Kxs7HWZqelmamoeqe70WabmqSkpLtut82emqGsXZ66rrHDopitnZyueqKy056pZpyilrO1ec%2BimqQ%3D