A former first-round draft pick may be living on borrowed time in Los Angeles.
Lakers forward Dalton Knecht is in danger of being cut by the team, veteran NBA writer Jovan Buha reported this week. Buha adds that the three realistic options for a cut are Knecht, Bronny James, and Jaden Hardy and noted that Knecht is “probably” the likeliest choice.
This news comes with the Lakers currently at 16 guaranteed contracts for next season. That means they will need to shed at least one of those contracts before the start of the regular season.
Knecht, the 25-year-old swingman, was once an exciting prospect for the Lakers. He was the team’s first-round pick in 2024 (No. 17 overall) and averaged 9.1 points per game over 78 total appearances as a rookie in 2024-25.
But Knecht badly regressed as a sophomore last season, posting 4.2 points per game over 54 total appearances (often becoming a healthy scratch for games). Besides his shooting ability and his 6-foot-6 frame, Knecht showed little justification for continuing to receive minutes for the Lakers.
Knecht is only signed for $4.2 million next season with a $6.5 million club option for 2027-28. After very nearly being traded by the Lakers last year as part of the failed Mark Williams deal, Knecht’s value now appears to have dropped to a point where he has become an expected cut candidate for the team (which the ex-Tennessee standout would likely welcome).
