EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The Los Angeles Lakers waived guard Dalton Knecht on Monday, parting ways with their 2024 first-round draft pick as the franchise finalized its regular-season roster ahead of opening night, the Associated Press reported.
The move concluded a rapid reversal of fortune for Knecht in Los Angeles. Facing a 5 p.m. Eastern deadline on Oct. 19 to trim the roster to 15 standard contracts, team officials sought trade partners but ultimately released the 25-year-old wing when no acceptable deal materialized, according to Knox News.
Early promise met tactical shifts
Selected 17th overall in the 2024 NBA draft, Knecht entered the league as the highest-drafted prospect under Tennessee coach Rick Barnes, Knox News noted. He arrived with substantial expectations after earning consensus first-team All-American honors and winning the 2024 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year award.
For the opening weeks of his professional career, Knecht appeared to validate those expectations. During an explosive stretch in November 2024, he erupted for 37 points and sank nine 3-pointers against the Utah Jazz, the Associated Press reported. NBC Sports noted that across his first 19 appearances, Knecht started seven games, posted 12.2 points per contest, and converted 43.9 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
However, that production proved difficult to sustain. Tactical adjustments and roster turnover quickly reshaped Knecht’s standing within the organization. According to NBC Sports, the arrival of Luka Doncic transformed the Lakers’ offensive focal point, increasing scrutiny on Knecht’s defensive shortcomings and reducing his perimeter opportunities.
His status grew further complicated in February 2025 when Los Angeles agreed to send Knecht, Cam Reddish, and draft considerations to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for center Mark Williams. The transaction was abruptly voided hours later when Williams failed his physical examination, returning Knecht to a roster that had already begun planning without him, the Associated Press reported.
Shrinking minutes force a roster decision
Knecht never fully reclaimed his position in the rotation following the voided trade. After logging 19.2 minutes per game as a rookie, his playing time was cut roughly in half during his second professional campaign, Bleacher Report reported. Knecht finished the 2025-26 season averaging 4.2 points and 1.1 rebounds in 54 appearances while shooting 34.2 percent from 3-point range, according to statistics cited by NBC Sports and Knox News.
Although coach JJ Redick praised Knecht during the preseason for showing steady development each year, the front office faced difficult arithmetic at the cutdown deadline, NBC Sports reported. Releasing Knecht cleared the way for Los Angeles to retain guard Bronny James for a third season following the offseason departure of his father, LeBron James, the Associated Press noted. Bronny James appeared in 69 games over his first two seasons, averaging 2.7 points.
What comes next for Knecht
Now an unrestricted free agent, Knecht enters the open market searching for a system that can leverage his perimeter shooting. Bleacher Report highlighted Charlotte as a natural suitor given the franchise’s prior trade agreement for him, while also identifying the Orlando Magic, which entered the season with an open roster spot, as another potential landing spot.
Knecht was not the only notable casualty of Monday’s cutdown deadline. NBC Sports reported that the Milwaukee Bucks waived guard Kevin Porter Jr., while the Memphis Grizzlies released Walter Clayton Jr., the 18th pick in the 2025 draft.
Whether a rival team claims Knecht or signs him as a free agent remains to be seen as the Lakers prepare to host the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night to begin the 2026-27 regular season.
