Dalton Knecht waived by Lakers: Why the 2024 draft class was doomed from the start (and the No. 1 pick)

Key Points:

• The 2024 NBA Draft class has been widely regarded as underwhelming compared to the surrounding years, lacking consensus and blue-chip talent, with several lottery picks traded or waived within their first two seasons.
• Notable players like No. 1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher and Dalton Knecht have struggled to find stable roles, with Risacher traded after two seasons and Knecht waived by the Lakers following a failed trade and inconsistent playing time.
• Despite struggles, some players have shown promise, including Stephon Castle, Donovan Clingan, Alex Sarr, Zach Edey, Matas Buzelis, and Ajay Mitchell, who was a standout in the 2026 playoffs and ranked in CBS Sports’ Top 100 players.
• The 2024 draft serves as a cautionary tale due to early trades and underperformance, highlighting the challenges of predicting talent and the impact of team fit; meanwhile, upcoming drafts in 2027 and 2028 are generating interest but remain uncertain.
• Major lottery reform with a new 3-2-1 format aims to reduce tanking and increase competitiveness, potentially affecting the quality and perception of future draft classes compared to the 2024 class.