The Lakers are shedding former first‑rounder Dalton Knecht to hit the 15‑man limit for the season, Shams Charania of ESPN reported via Twitter. A press release later confirmed the move.
Picked 17th in the 2024 draft, Knecht showed promise early but his minutes and output soon faded. Over 51 games in 2025‑26 he logged 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per contest. The ex‑Tennessee sharpshooter shot just 34.2% on 2.1 attempts per game.
He was part of a trade that would have sent him to Charlotte at the 2025 deadline, but the deal collapsed after the Lakers balked at Mark Williams’s physical results. Knecht stayed in L.A. for another season‑and‑a‑half, yet his future grew uncertain as a wave of free‑agent signings left the club with more guaranteed deals than roster slots.
Recent weeks saw the Lakers combing the market for a two‑for‑one swap to ease the crunch or at least move Knecht. At 25, his $4.2 MM salary carried little trade appeal, and the team lacked draft assets to sweeten any offer.
Ultimately they chose to waive him, absorbing his guaranteed 2026‑27 salary rather than attaching one of their three remaining second‑round picks. The waiver voids Knecht’s $6.45 MM rookie‑scale option for 2027‑28, turning him into an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, eligible for a two‑way deal elsewhere. For my money, swallowing his salary is a smarter move than over‑paying for draft bait.
His exit opens roster spots for back‑court pieces like Jaden Hardy, Bronny James and forward Jarred Vanderbilt, leaving the Lakers with 15 standard contracts and three two‑way deals as the season begins. Will this youthful core give L.A. the boost it needs?