The Lakers like where their core stands heading into 2026-27, but that hasn’t stopped them from trying to reshape the edges of the roster. With Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Walker Kessler expected to anchor the group, Los Angeles believes it has a path to a top-four finish in the West.
That optimism comes with a catch: the front office still wants to move on from Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Those two names have been on the trade market for a while, according to NBA insider Jovan Buha, who said the Lakers have been working the phones on both players for close to two seasons.
“This should come as no surprise, in my opinion,” said NBA Insider Jovan Buha. “I’ve been talking about it on here [Buha’s Block].
The Lakers have been trying to trade both of these players [Vanderbilt, Knecht] going back, really, almost two seasons. They’ve been shopping these guys for a while, well over a year.
They were shopping them last deadline. They’ve been shopping them this offseason.
They’ve not been able to offload them.”
Los Angeles still needs to create one roster spot before opening night, and Vanderbilt looks like the most likely candidate to open it up. The Lakers signed him to a four-year, $48 million extension in 2023, and that deal now sits awkwardly on the books. He was a regular part of Darvin Ham’s rotation, but JJ Redick has clearly not used him in the same way, and his role has shrunk.
Even with his defensive versatility filling a need on paper, Vanderbilt’s production last season reflected how far his standing has slipped. He averaged 4.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. At this point, he simply doesn’t look like a natural fit.
“When people continue to throw out Jared Vanderbilt starter, Jared Vanderbilt prominent role, I’ve pushed back that JJ just does not view Jared in that light,” Buha added. “There’s just a gap between how I think a lot of the fan base views Vando and how JJ views him.”
The bigger problem for the Lakers is the money. Vanderbilt is making about $12 million annually, which makes a clean trade harder to pull off unless Los Angeles includes something extra to entice another team. Knecht is a more flexible piece financially, with $10 million combined over the next two seasons, and insiders believe the easier route may be simply moving on from him outright.
“Right now, I think Hardy is winning the competition,” said Buha. “If it really comes down to it, I think Knecht is the clear odd man out, and we’ll see if LA is able to pull off a trade. But if not, I think he’s going to be waived.”
For now, the Lakers are still searching for a trade partner, but the market for either player appears thin. Their value is limited, which helps explain why nothing has materialized yet. With the season closing in, Los Angeles may have to accept that waiving a player is the most realistic way to finish the roster.
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