The Lakers are down to 15 players after making the expected move on Dalton Knecht ahead of Monday’s roster cut deadline.
Los Angeles entered the day with 16 players on guaranteed deals, and after coming up empty in trade talks, the team decided to waive the former first-round pick. That leaves the roster at the minimum number, with three players on two-way contracts still on the books.
Here’s how the group looks now:
Luka Doncic, Cameron Carr, Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy, Bronny James, Austin Reaves, Collin Sexton, Matisse Thybulle
Jake LaRavia, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Adou Thiero, Jarred Vanderbilt, Ziaire Williams
The Lakers had spent the lead-up to the deadline exploring ways to move on from Knecht, but no deal came together. Over the weekend, they reportedly had conversations with the Bucks, Bulls and Jazz, though none of those discussions produced a trade.
For Knecht, it ends a rough stretch that began after the Lakers took him with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He flashed early as a rookie, posting 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game while shooting 46.5% from the field and 35.8% from 3-point range. But he never found steady footing under JJ Redick, with his shooting and self-created offense not translating consistently.
His time in Los Angeles also took a sharp turn at the 2025 NBA trade deadline, when the Lakers agreed to send Knecht, Cam Reddish, a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams. That deal was later rescinded, and, according to the source, Knecht was never the same player after that.
Now the Lakers move forward with a 15-man roster they believe in, though they’re still expected to need upgrades before the 2027 NBA trade deadline. If health cooperates this season, the team has a chance to put itself among the league’s best, and certainly near the top of the Western Conference.
The Lakers 2026-27 season will begin on Wednesday night against the Golden State Warriors.
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If that opens up, the Lakers would have to make room somewhere, and the cleanest way could be to part with one of their two-way players. Arthur Kaluma or AK Okereke would be the likeliest names in that conversation, which turns a simple insurance move into a real roster-choice dilemma for a team already trying to balance present need with long-term flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Sexton Just Made Lakers Backcourt Decisions A Lot Tougher
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His status for opening night is still up in the air, and the Lakers are treating it as a day-by-day situation. Even without a final decision yet, Sextons progress adds another layer to the rotation puzzle, since his return could force the staff to rethink how it pieces together the backcourt and the lineup around it. [Read more 🡒]