Dalton Knecht and the Consequences of Being Cut by the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have decided to part ways with Dalton Knecht after exploring various trade options without finding a solution. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Los Angeles franchise will waive the 25-year-old forward, selected with the number 17 pick in the 2024 Draft, to adjust their roster to the 15-player limit with standard contracts. The decision ends a two-season stint in which the young shooter did not manage to secure a place in the rotation.

The Lakers began the week with 16 players under guaranteed contracts and needed to free up a spot. The organization had considered including Knecht in a trade and, according to Hoops Wire, held talks with several franchises, including the Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, and Utah Jazz. However, the negotiations did not bear fruit, and Los Angeles ultimately chose to let him go.

From Draft prospect to early exit

Knecht entered the NBA with significant expectations after standing out at Tennessee and being selected in the first round of the 2024 Draft. His scoring ability and outside shooting seemed to fit the needs of the Lakers, who were looking to add young talent around their main stars.

During his first season, he showed flashes of his potential but struggled to maintain a regular presence in JJ Redick's plans. In his second year, his participation decreased significantly: he averaged 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game, appearing in 51 games.

His main argument for securing a spot was supposed to be his three-point shooting, but he also failed to achieve the necessary consistency in that area. Knecht finished the last season with a 34.2% shooting percentage from beyond the arc, a figure insufficient to guarantee his continuation on a team with competitive aspirations.

A story marked by a frustrated trade

Knecht's time in Los Angeles was also affected by a trade that never materialized. In February 2025, the Lakers agreed to a trade that would have sent him to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for center Mark Williams. However, the operation was cancelled, and the forward returned to the Los Angeles roster.

This allowed him to remain on the team, but he did not manage to find the space he needed to develop his game. Since then, his name repeatedly appeared in trade rumors until the franchise made the decision to part ways with him.

Now, Knecht will have to seek a new opportunity in the NBA. His youth and scoring ability may still be appealing to other teams, especially those that need to improve their outside shooting and can offer him more minutes.

The Lakers, for their part, free up a spot and close a bet that did not work out. The outcome leaves an open question: if Knecht manages to regain confidence and finds a favorable context, will he be able to demonstrate at another team the potential that led Los Angeles to select him in the first round?

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