Shockwaves in LA: Lakers Part Ways with Dalton Knecht
In a move that has left NBA analysts and fans buzzing, the Los Angeles Lakers have officially waived Dalton Knecht. The announcement came on Monday as the franchise scrambled to meet the league’s strict roster limit of 15 players before the 5 p.m. ET deadline.
Knecht, the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, entered the league with high expectations after a stellar collegiate career at the University of Tennessee. However, his journey in the Purple and Gold has been a rollercoaster of early brilliance and subsequent struggle.
The Rollercoaster Journey of Dalton Knecht
For a brief moment, it seemed like the Lakers had found a cornerstone wing player. During a blistering nine-game stretch in late November of his rookie season, Knecht looked like a superstar in the making. His stats during that period were nothing short of elite:
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- Points: 18.9 per game
- Shooting: 55.4% overall (with a lethal 52.2% from beyond the arc)
- Rebounds: 4.9 per game
Unfortunately, the momentum didn’t last. After that hot start, Knecht struggled to maintain consistency. He finished his rookie campaign averaging 9.1 points across 78 games. By his second year, his role diminished significantly, with his playing time dropping to just 10.2 minutes per game and his scoring dipping to 4.2 points.
The Trade That Almost Was
The drama surrounding Knecht’s tenure didn’t just happen on the court. In February 2025, the Lakers nearly shipped Knecht, Cam Reddish, and future draft assets to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for center Mark Williams. However, in a twist of fate, the trade was rescinded after Williams failed his physical examination, forcing Knecht to remain in Los Angeles.
Why Now? JJ Redick Explains the Fit
Many are wondering why the Lakers didn’t find a trade partner for Knecht before simply waiving him. According to league sources via ESPN, the Lakers explored several 2-for-1 trade scenarios to acquire a big man, but no deal materialized in time.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick addressed the situation candidly, noting that the evolution of the roster played a massive role in the decision:
“I think the biggest thing is the team changed. The needs changed, the fit changed… coming into this year, we added a lot of wings and he’s in a tough spot right now.”
What’s Next for Knecht?
With his preseason performance dipping to a 25% shooting average, Knecht now enters the waiver wire. While his tenure in LA didn’t end as hoped, his early-career flashes of scoring suggest that another NBA team may see him as a low-risk, high-reward gamble for their bench.
For the Lakers, the focus remains on finding the right chemistry to compete in a crowded Western Conference, proving once again that in the NBA, the margin between a rotation player and a waiver claim is razor-thin.
