Lakers fans thought they had succeeded. Through the first 19 games of Dalton Knecht’s NBA career, in the 2024-25 season, the Tennessee rookie has thrived on the LeBron James/Anthony Davis Lakers, averaging 12.2 points per game, shooting 43.9% from 3-point range, and he had already started seven games.
Things were very different this season after the arrival of Luka Doncic changed the dynamic of the Lakers. Knecht’s defensive struggles were a problem, and after the All-Star break he averaged 8.4 points per game as his minutes declined. Last season, in 54 games, he averaged 4.2 points per night and he shot 34.2 percent from beyond the arc.
Faced with a reduction in their squad to 15 players before the start of the season, the Lakers waived Knecht on Monday. He is now a free agent. The Lakers opted to waive Knecht and keep Bronny James and Jaden Hardy on the roster.
The Lakers had attempted to trade Knecht during the offseason and training camp, but, in a sign of his trade value, could not find a deal that worked.
Knecht deserves a chance elsewhere in the league (perhaps on a two-way contract), somewhere where he can rediscover the boldness he had in the beginning. Redick has talked this preseason about how Knecht has improved each season with the Lakers, but with the offense built around Doncic and his strengths, the team’s wing needs have changed.
Two other notable players waived Monday at the roster cut deadline:
• Milwaukee waived guard Kevin Porter Jr., who averaged 17.4 points, 7.4 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game last season, playing in 38 games.
• Memphis waived Walter Clayton Jr., the Florida star who was the 18th pick in the 2025 draft. In 69 games split between Utah and Memphis as a rookie, he averaged 7.8 points and four assists per game while shooting 30.7 percent from 3.
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