The Los Angeles Lakers currently have 16 players under contract, one over the league maximum of 15 players.

By the start of the regular season, the Lakers will have to cut one player from their roster to comply with league rules.

According to the New York Post, which spoke with rival executives, Dalton Knecht is expected to be the odd man out.

Knecht was drafted with the 17th overall pick by the Lakers in 2024. In his two seasons, he’s averaged 7.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.7 assists on 46% from the field and 36% from three.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick defended Knecht by saying that Knecht has been a pro, has worked hard all offseason, and has had three good days at training camp.

Redick said that Knecht is hungry to play and hungry to earn a spot in the rotation.

It’s no secret that the Lakers have been trying to trade Knecht for years.

They had a deal in place with the Charlotte Hornets in February 2025 in exchange for Mark Williams, but Williams failed his physical, and the deal was nullified. Since then, Knecht has struggled to find his footing on the team.

Last season, he played just 10 minutes per game, averaging 4.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 0.4 assists on 45% from the field and 34%from three.

He was drafted because of his shooting ability, knocking down 39% of his three-point attempts during his final season at Tennessee, but he has been inconsistent from deep during his NBA career.

The Lakers brought in a number of wings and guards during the offseason to add depth, acquiring Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Jaden Hardy, Ziaire Williams, Matisse Thybulle, and drafting Cameron Carr.

Those additions have pushed Knecht further down the depth chart.

He’s battling Bronny James and Hardy for the final roster spot, but Bronny is three years younger, and Hardy is a more proven NBA player. Redick noted that both players can run the offense in lineups that don’t feature Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

The team has tried pairing Knecht with Jared Vanderbilt in trade talks, notably attempting to acquire Jonathan Kuminga, but no deal ever materialized.

Based on the numbers and the current structure of the roster, Knecht doesn’t seem to have a spot on the roster unless he has an impressive season where he shoots lights out and isn’t a complete negative on defense. Even then, the Lakers may have already made up their minds.