Dalton Knecht Lakers rumors are heating up as multiple rival executives expect the third-year wing to be the odd man out when the team trims to 15 players, California Post’s Khobi Price reported Friday.
The Lakers have 16 players on guaranteed contracts and must trade or waive one before opening night. The deadline to set the 15-man NBA roster is Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. EDT, according to Bleacher Report.
What the Dalton Knecht Lakers report says
Price wrote that rival executives “expect” Knecht to be the player who loses out. The Lakers have not announced a decision, and the report is based on unnamed league sources.
Los Angeles reworked its roster this summer, adding players such as center Walker Kessler and guards Jaden Hardy and Collin Sexton, according to Yahoo Sports. Hardy is competing with Knecht in training camp, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.
Knecht’s numbers slipped in year two
The Lakers drafted Knecht 17th overall in 2024. He played 78 games as a rookie and averaged 9.1 points in 19.2 minutes.
Last season he appeared in 54 games and averaged 4.2 points in 10.2 minutes. He shot 22.2% from 3-point range over 12 games in January and then fell out of the rotation.
Coach JJ Redick said Knecht had “a good three days of practice” and is “hungry to earn a spot in the rotation,” according to Bleacher Report. The Lakers’ roster picture also includes Bronny James’ development and star Luka Doncic’s status, both covered earlier.
What’s next for Knecht
The Lakers open the preseason Monday at Sacramento against the Kings. That gives Knecht a few weeks to show he belongs before the roster deadline.
If the Lakers cut him, he could be claimed on waivers or become a free agent. A trade is also possible, though no deal has been reported.
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