Lakers waive Dalton Knecht ahead of season opener, roster deadline after failing to find trade partner
Yahoo Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The Los Angeles Lakers waived Dalton Knecht just before the 2026-27 NBA season roster deadline, ending his stint with the team.
- Knecht was a first-round pick in 2024 and showed promise as a rookie but saw his performance decline significantly last season, averaging only 4.2 points in 10 minutes per game.
- The Lakers attempted to trade Knecht before the deadline but faced little interest, leading to his release as the team finalized their 15-player roster, which includes Bronny James and Jaden Hardy.
- Head coach JJ Redick cited changes in team needs and roster additions as reasons for Knecht's release, noting the increased competition among wings.
- Knecht, 25, now becomes a free agent and will look for a fresh start after a challenging start to his NBA career, following a notable college run at Tennessee.
