Dalton Knecht will have to resuscitate his career in the G League.

Head coach Mike Brown said he wants the Knicks’ new acquisition to get game reps rather than just “sit.” That means, barring injuries or unexpected events, the former first-round pick will be hooping with Westchester when the G League season starts next month.

“We want him to play as much as he can,” Brown said. “So he’s gonna play some games with Westchester. If we need him to play games with us, we’ll do that. I’d rather him play than be around us too much and sit.”

Dalton Knecht was drafted No. 17 overall in 2024 by the Lakers, with whom he spent the first two seasons of his NBA career. Getty Images

A tall two-guard, Knecht signed a two-way contract with the Knicks on Friday night and joined the team for Sunday night’s game against the Magic at the Garden. He was available because the Lakers cut Knecht after just two seasons, despite picking him 17th overall and watching him get named to the 2025 Rising Stars Challenge.

Knecht’s career plummeted after the Lakers acquired Luka Dončić via trade. His playing time and production diminished, and the Lakers quickly tried to deal Knecht to the Hornets for Mark Williams. When Williams failed his physical, Knecht had to return to the Lakers for sparse playing time.

“I don’t think nothing changed. I think the team just got changed and that was it,” Knecht said Sunday when asked why his career took a downturn after the hot rookie start. “Still loved my time that I was there. No hard feelings; on to better things.”

The Knicks are taking a low-risk chance that Knecht can rediscover the game that made him the 17th overall pick in 2024 — and the rookie who once scored 27 points and 37 points in consecutive wins with the Lakers.

“We’ll take it day by day to see how quickly he picks up on the offense and the defense,” Brown said. “And, and then, if there’s a need to throw him out there [with the senior Knicks], I won’t hesitate to throw him out there.”

Dalton Knecht is joining the Knicks on a two-way deal, and is expected to report to Westchester. NBAE via Getty Images

The Knicks thought enough of Knecht to waive Kevin McCullar Jr., who was their second-round draft pick from 2024. McCullar had some moments with the Knicks in his two seasons but mostly was injured and inactive.

“[McCullar has] been here three seasons as a two-way player, so we have a pretty good feel for him,” Brown said. “He has a good feel for us, and this is about getting to know a guy like Dalton Knecht at this point of the year. It’s something that we need to take a look at. So it wasn’t anything that Kevin didn’t do. He was great, and he is an NBA player, and I think he’s gonna get a shot down the road.”

The Knicks already have reserves Miles McBride, Landry Shamet, and Jordan Clarkson in the backcourt. Like Knecht, they’re all 3-point shooters.

McBride was coming off his best regular-season game in months, when he dropped 20 points in Friday’s loss to the Celtics while hitting 6 of 8 from beyond the arc. He also finished the game because starter Mikal Bridges was benched amid a hesitant offense and shooting struggles.

“[McBride] played great. He’s one of the reasons we were still in the game,” Jalen Brunson said. “Without him doing what he was doing, it might’ve been a worse outcome. He came in ready to go and helped us.”