The Los Angeles Lakers have officially waived forward Dalton Knecht, a move that concludes a brief and turbulent stint with the franchise. The decision was necessitated by the NBA’s strict roster deadline, which required all teams to trim their rosters to 15 players on standard contracts by 5 p.m. ET on Monday. With the Lakers entering the deadline holding 16 standard-contract players, management was forced to make a difficult personnel choice to comply with league regulations ahead of the season opener.
Failed trade attempts lead to surprise release of Tennessee product
Prior to the waiver, the Lakers actively pursued 2-for-1 trade opportunities to move Knecht alongside another player in exchange for an additional big man, according to league sources cited by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. However, no suitable deal materialized before the deadline, leaving the organization with no alternative but to release the 2024 first-round pick. The failed trade attempts highlight the team’s urgent desire to bolster their frontcourt depth, a priority that ultimately took precedence over retaining Knecht’s contract.
Knecht, selected 17th overall out of the University of Tennessee, was initially viewed as a significant value pick when he fell to the Lakers in the draft. Despite a promising start to his rookie campaign two seasons ago, his performance fizzled out, leading to his eventual departure from the team. This waiver marks a significant shift in the Lakers’ roster construction as they prepare for the upcoming regular season, leaving Knecht free to seek a new opportunity elsewhere in the league.
Source: Yahoo Sports
