Heavy ↗· 7 Sept 2026
Waiver · LAL
Developing
Dalton Knecht

Knecht's $6.4M option looms as Lakers weigh three roster cuts

Lakers analyst Trevor Lane says Los Angeles must decide by October 31 whether to pick up Dalton Knecht's $6.4 million team option, and says he would currently expect them to pass. Knecht's scoring fell from 9.1 points as a rookie to 4.2 last season with reduced minutes.

Jaden Hardy and Bronny James are also mentioned as roster-crunch candidates, though Lane says the Lakers value both more than Knecht. ClutchPoints' LakeShow argued the team should keep Knecht and give him a simple shooting role.

$6.4M

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Heavy ↗· 1 Oct 2026· updated 2d ago
Waiver · LAL
Developing
Dalton Knecht

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.

Heavy ↗· 1 Oct 2026· updated 2d ago
Trade rumor · CHI / LAL
Developing
Dalton KnechtZach Collins

Knecht for Collins floated as Lakers' center fix

One idea would send Dalton Knecht to Chicago for Zach Collins, giving JJ Redick a third center behind Walker Kessler and Kevon Looney. The Lakers had only two healthy centers last year after Kessler and Looney combined for just 26 games.