Lakers waive Dalton Knecht to meet roster compliance deadline

Summarised from 2 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 20 Oct, 03:32 · Archive

The Lakers waived third-year wing Dalton Knecht on Monday to comply with league roster rules requiring 15 standard contracts.

The Lakers waived Dalton Knecht on Monday to trim their roster from 16 to 15 players signed to standard NBA contracts, meeting the league's deadline. Coach JJ Redick announced the decision after the team's practice, where both Knecht and third-year guard Bronny James had been excused.

Knecht, selected 17th overall in the 2024 draft from Tennessee, had been prominent early in his career. He started multiple games in mid-November 2024 due to injuries, averaging 18.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in his final nine games that month. However, his role with the team diminished significantly in the new year, and the forward has not been the same since.

According to the New York Post, the Lakers had attempted to use Knecht as trade bait in February 2025, including him in a proposed deal with the Hornets for Mark Williams. The trade fell through after Williams failed his physical with the Lakers, forcing them to rescind the agreement. The Post reports that Knecht had to return to a locker room that had already moved on without him, from which there was no recovery. The Japan Times reports that James and Jaden Hardy will now make the opening-night roster.

How it is being reported

• Lakers release former first-round pick Dalton KnechtThe move to release Knecht means that Bronny James and Jaden Hardy will make the Lakers' opening-night roster.The Japan Times · 20 Oct, 03:15
• Failed Lakers trade prophesized Dalton Knecht’s epic downfallDalton Knecht was already out the door once.New York Post · 20 Oct, 02:03
• Lakers cut Dalton Knecht, making roster compliant with league’s rulesThe Lakers finally made the move to become compliant with the league’s roster rules.New York Post · 19 Oct, 21:51
• Bronny James, Dalton Knecht excused from Lakers’ practice as cut rumors swirlAs rumors swirl about their pending roster crunch, the Lakers were without two players during Monday’s practice. Third-year wing Dalton Knecht and third-year guard Bronny James were excused from the session, according to Lakers coach JJ Redick. The Lakers have until 2 p.m. to trim their roster from 16 players signed to standard NBA deals...New York Post · 19 Oct, 21:38

In this story: Dalton Knecht · Bronny James · Los Angeles Lakers · JJ Redick · Mark Williams · Charlotte Hornets

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