Knecht favored to lose roster spot battle with Hardy in LA

Lakers insider Jovan Buha says Jaden Hardy is more likely to keep his roster spot than Dalton Knecht as Los Angeles trims from 16 guaranteed contracts to a 15-man limit. NBA insider Brett Siegel adds the Lakers nearly traded Knecht for Buddy Hield before passing on the deal.

Draymond Green said on his show that Knecht is not expected to make the regular-season roster, with both Hardy and Bronny James having outplayed him in camp.

Knecht is in the third year of his four-year, $18 million rookie contract and is set to earn $4.2 million this season. Both he and Hardy remain candidates to be waived or dealt if the Lakers find a consolidation trade, but Knecht is seen as the more exposed of the two.