The Lakers waived former first-round pick Dalton Knecht on Monday to meet the NBA’s maximum requirements before the season begins this week.
The 17th pick in the 2024 draft had fallen out of the rotation the past two seasons, but had an opportunity to prove himself during training camp and the preseason, when the Lakers had 16 players under guaranteed contracts. Knecht, who averaged 4.2 points per game and 10.2 minutes per game last season, played just 14 minutes combined in the last two preseason games.
Knecht’s role had diminished considerably since he showed his scoring potential as a rookie. After scoring 37 points in a win over the Utah Jazz in November 2024 and tying the single-game rookie record with nine three-pointers, Knecht looked like he could have been the steal of the draft. But after a trade was canceled with Charlotte for center Mark Williams, Knecht never settled back into the rotation.
The Lakers signed nine new players in an offseason roster overhaul, burying Knecht even further on the forward depth chart.
“The team has changed,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said of Knecht before the Lakers’ preseason finale last Friday. “The needs have changed, the form has changed. I think he has improved as a player over the last couple of years.”
The Lakers considered acquiring center Jericho Sims from the Milwaukee Bucks during the preseason in exchange for Knecht, sources familiar with the matter but not authorized to speak publicly told the Times. But the discussions broke down when the Lakers did not want to part with several second-round picks.
The Lakers, who wanted to solidify their backup center position behind Walker Kessler, have only three second-round picks (2031, 2032 and 2033) available for trade. They already only control their first-round pick in 2032 after sending two first-round picks and two first-round pick swaps to Utah to acquire Kessler this summer.
Knecht was given an “excused absence” from Monday’s practice, Redick said. The deadline for teams to reach the maximum of 15 players on standard contracts was 2 p.m. PDT Monday before the start of regular season games on Tuesday. The Lakers open their season Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena against the Golden State Warriors.
Redick also said guard Bronny James was excused from practice, noting there were players who were “under the weather.” The third-year guard who was picked 55th overall in the same draft as Knecht remained on the Lakers’ updated roster.
James worked his way into the playoff rotation last season as the Lakers struggled with injuries in their backcourt. He averaged 2.9 points and 1.2 assists during the regular season while shooting 38.6 percent from three.
Injury update
Lakers guard Collin Sexton speaks during the team’s media day in El Segundo on September 28.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
For the first time since the start of training camp, Collin Sexton participated fully in practice with the Lakers on Monday. Still, Sexton wasn’t ready to fully commit to playing Wednesday in the Lakers’ season opener.
Sexton missed all five preseason games and numerous practices with a lower right leg injury.
Sexton, who said he felt good in practice, was asked about playing against the Warriors.
“We’ll take it day by day,” he said. “Ultimately, I had a really good practice today, I felt good. I’m super excited to be back with the guys, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Sexton said he has “tightness and stuff” in his lower leg, “but I feel pretty good.”
He was asked what caused the injury.
“Nothing special,” Sexton said. “I think we figured it out and now we move forward and just continue to get those reps, play five-on-five and get out there as soon as possible.”
Sexton is a 6-1 point guard that the Lakers signed to support Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves in the backcourt. The Lakers signed him to a two-year, $19.2 million contract.
“He’s another guy who can bring the ball up and create his own (mismatch),” Doncic said. “So we’re excited to have him back.”
Sophomore forward Adou Thiero and rookie guard Cameron Carr both missed practice Monday.
But Sexton’s return was a good sign for the Lakers.
“It was good, super excited to be back out there, honestly just going out and going up and down, the legs were a little heavy, but it was great,” Sexton said. “It was definitely a great day, great practice for the team as well, and the guys were really competing.”
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