The Lakers have one more guaranteed player than they can carry into the season, and Dalton Knecht faces the toughest fight for a role.
The Los Angeles Lakers have 16 players on guaranteed contracts and room for only 15 on their opening-night roster. Training camp gives them time to evaluate the decision, but someone will have to go before the regular season begins.
Dalton Knecht is the clearest-cut potential candidate.
The former first-round pick still has scoring potential, yet his path to minutes has narrowed after a summer in which Los Angeles added Quentin Grimes, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle and Ziaire Williams. Rookie Cameron Carr adds another wing to the competition.
The Lakers need to decide whether keeping Knecht’s upside is worth using a roster spot on a player who may rarely enter JJ Redick’s rotation.
April 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los AngelesLakersforwardDaltonKnecht(4) moves the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jared McCain (3) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesWhy Knecht faces pressure
Knecht’s strongest case is his shooting. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves can create open looks, and a dependable shooter would make their work easier. But Los Angeles already has several guards and wings seeking minutes. Grimes and Thybulle offer defensive options, while Sexton can supply offense off the bench. Williams and Jarred Vanderbilt give Redick more size on the perimeter.
That leaves Knecht needing to show he can do enough beyond scoring to stay on the floor. If his shot is falling, he can change the calculation. If it is not, the Lakers may have a harder time justifying his place ahead of players who fill clearer roles.
A trade would be preferable to cutting a 2024 first-round selection for nothing. Whether another team offers something worthwhile is a separate question. The Lakers should explore that route before making a final cut.
Who else could be considered?
Bronny James, Adou Thiero and Jaden Hardy are other names worth evaluating, though each presents a different decision. James and Thiero are young players the Lakers could continue developing. Hardy brings NBA experience and gives Los Angeles another ballhandler if its guard rotation is disrupted by injury.
The frontcourt is a less appealing place to make the cut. Walker Kessler is expected to start at center, with Kevon Looney behind him.
Removing Looney would leave the Lakers particularly thin at a position where they already have little established depth. Sandro Mamukelashvili can play some center, but he also figures into the team’s forward rotation.
Knecht is the most logical choice if the roster stays as it is. Camp performances, injuries and trade offers could change that assessment. For now, the Lakers’ decision comes down to how much they value his scoring upside against the more defined roles of the players around him.
