Los Angeles Lakers Waive Dalton Knecht to Finalize Opening Night Roster

The Los Angeles Lakers finalized their active roster for the 2026-27 NBA season by waiving third-year wing Dalton Knecht on Monday afternoon. The team faced a roster crunch with 16 players on guaranteed contracts entering training camp, and after unsuccessful attempts to orchestrate a consolidation trade, the front office made the decision to cut ties with the 25-year-old guard.

Knecht, who was selected 17th overall out of Tennessee in the 2024 NBA Draft, initially showed immense promise during his rookie campaign. He played in 78 games, averaging 9.1 points per contest while shooting 37.6 percent from beyond the arc. However, his playing time and production declined significantly in his sophomore season, dropping to 4.2 points in 10.2 minutes per game as he fell out of head coach JJ Redick's regular rotation.

Redick addressed the decision by pointing to how the team's needs and personnel had evolved since drafting Knecht. "The team changed. The needs changed, the fit changed," Redick explained. He added that while he believed Knecht improved as a player over his two seasons, the addition of multiple wings created a difficult environment for the young shooter to secure consistent minutes.

Knecht's tenure in Los Angeles was also complicated by a near-miss trade in February 2025. He was packaged in a deal to the Charlotte Hornets for center Mark Williams, but the transaction was ultimately rescinded after Williams failed his physical, sending Knecht back to a franchise that had already agreed to trade him.

Despite the disappointing conclusion to his Lakers career, Knecht enters the free-agent market as an unrestricted free agent with potential suitors around the league. Analysts have highlighted several possible landing spots where a young floor-spacer could receive regular minutes and an opportunity to rebuild his rhythm, including the Chicago Bulls, Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors, and Portland Trail Blazers.

With Knecht's departure and the finalization of the 15-player limit, the Lakers' opening night roster is set as they prepare to face the Golden State Warriors. The roster features core pieces such as Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and newly acquired center Walker Kessler, alongside returning guards like Bronny James and Jaden Hardy, who successfully secured their spots following a rigorous preseason evaluation.