Dalton Knecht appears to be the odd man out as the Lakers prepare to trim their roster before opening night.
The Los Angeles Lakers strengthened their roster during the offseason, but their aggressive approach created one final problem for the front office.
Los Angeles currently has 16 players on standard contracts and must reduce that number to 15 before the regular season. Unless the Lakers complete a trade, one player will have to be waived.
Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy and Bronny James have been mentioned as possible candidates. However, Knecht appears to be the player most likely to lose his roster spot.
Mar 19, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard AustinReaves(15) hugs Los Angeles Lakers guard LukaDoncic(77) after 60 point game against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Isabella Frias-Imagn ImagesKnecht Has Fallen Out of the Rotation
Knecht entered the NBA as the No. 17 pick in the 2024 draft and initially looked like an important shooting prospect. His second season changed that outlook.
The 25-year-old averaged only 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 54 games last season. His inconsistent shooting and defensive limitations kept him from establishing a regular place in JJ Redick’s rotation.
Los Angeles also added several players capable of filling minutes on the wing, including Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams. Jake LaRavia and Jarred Vanderbilt can provide additional size and defensive versatility at forward.
That leaves Knecht without an obvious role. He would need to rediscover his shooting while showing significant defensive improvement to earn minutes on a roster attempting to contend around Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
Apr 21, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard LukaDoncic(77) and guard AustinReaves(15) look on from the bench during the second half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Houston Rockets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesLakers analyst Trevor Lane recently argued that James was better than Knecht last season and said waiving Knecht could ultimately make the most sense.
Lakers Should Explore a Trade First
The Lakers should still attempt to trade Knecht before releasing him. Although his value has declined, his size, shooting background and status as a former first-round pick could appeal to a rebuilding team willing to take a chance on his development.
Hardy could also be included in trade conversations. He averaged 9.2 points and shot 39.7% from three last season, but his scoring overlaps with what the Lakers already have in Dončić, Reaves, Collin Sexton and Jaden Hardy’s other backcourt competition. Still, Hardy has demonstrated more reliable NBA production than Knecht.
Oct 31, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard LukaDoncic(77) reacts with guard AustinReaves(15) during a timeout during the second quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn ImagesJames remains a developmental player, but he is younger, well-liked within the organization and improved during his second season. The Lakers would gain little by cutting him now.
A trade involving Knecht would be the best outcome, particularly if Los Angeles could acquire another defensive forward or dependable backup center. If no deal develops, however, the Lakers may have to accept losing him without receiving anything in return.
Knecht still possesses offensive upside, but roster construction works against him. Among the Lakers’ 16 players, he is the most logical choice to be cut.
