Dalton Knecht won’t be part of the Los Angeles Lakers’ summer league group, and that omission says plenty about where things stand for the former Tennessee standout.
The Lakers released their California Classic and Las Vegas rosters last week, and Knecht’s name was nowhere to be found. Instead, the headliner was Cameron Carr, the 24th overall pick who played at Tennessee before transferring to Baylor and works in a similar role on the floor.
For Knecht, the timing is hard to ignore. He’s heading into his third year, a point where summer league absences aren’t unusual, but his situation has clearly shifted.
His role dipped in his second season, and Los Angeles is reshaping its roster around Luka Doncic while LeBron James is set to depart. The Lakers have also added players who fit the same spot Knecht would fill.
Knecht has kept quiet about it. Before his basketball camp at UT, he told reporters he didn’t want to talk about the Lakers.
The connection to Carr makes the situation even more interesting. Carr was a freshman on that Tennessee team during Knecht’s SEC Player of the Year season before moving on to Baylor. When the Lakers drafted him, he looked like the kind of depth piece that could squeeze Knecht even further down the pecking order.
Knecht’s first year in Los Angeles looked like a win for the Lakers. Drafted 17th overall out of Tennessee in 2024, he beat expectations right away, averaging 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds in 19.2 minutes over 78 games, with 16 starts.
He shot 46.1% from the field and 37.6% from three. There was drama, too: the Lakers nearly sent him to Charlotte at the deadline before the deal fell apart when Mark Williams failed his physical.
But that version of Knecht didn’t carry over. In 2025-26, he played 54 games and started just once. His minutes dropped to 10.2 per game, about half of what they had been, and his scoring fell to 4.2 points while he shot 45.5% from the floor.
He’s still under contract for now. The Lakers already picked up his $4.2 million team option for 2026-27 back in October, and he still has a roughly $6.5 million option for 2027-28.
Even so, the team’s intentions have been pretty clear. Before February’s trade deadline, it was reported that the Lakers shopped Knecht and didn’t find a deal. The expectation is they’ll try again this summer, and Carr’s arrival only adds another layer to that picture.
Meanwhile, Tennessee will be well represented across the NBA Summer League. Seven former Vols are scheduled to take part this month, with three on the San Antonio roster. The 2026 offseason showcase starts July 3 with the California Classic in San Francisco and Sacramento, one day before the Salt Lake City Summer League and six days before the main event in Las Vegas.
Here’s where the former Vols are set to begin:
Nate Ament, Milwaukee Bucks: Drafted No. 13 overall in the 2026 draft via Miami. He is not on Milwaukee’s California Classic roster and is expected to debut when Las Vegas Summer League opens July 9, pending the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade becoming official on July 6.
Ja'Kobi Gillespie, San Antonio Spurs: Drafted No. 42 overall in the 2026 draft. Opens California Classic play July 3 against Miami at Chase Center in San Francisco, 8 p.m. ET.
Chaz Lanier, Detroit Pistons: Drafted No. 37 overall in the 2025 draft. Opens Las Vegas Summer League on July 9 against Philadelphia at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, 5:30 p.m. ET.
Jahmai Mashack, Memphis Grizzlies: Drafted No. 59 overall in the 2025 draft via Houston. Opens Salt Lake City Summer League on July 4 against Oklahoma City at Jon M.
Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, 3 p.m. ET.
Igor Miličić Jr., San Antonio Spurs: Signed as an undrafted free agent invite after a stint with the Delaware Blue Coats, the NBA G League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers. Opens California Classic play July 3 against Miami at Chase Center, 8 p.m. ET.
Felix Okpara, Washington Wizards: Drafted No. 46 overall in the 2026 draft via Orlando. Opens Las Vegas Summer League on July 9 against Utah at Thomas & Mack Center, 9 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Tennessee Still Has A Shot At A Receiver Who Could Shift Everything
Xavier Sabbs July 3 commitment date has put one of the countrys top 2027 receivers squarely back in the spotlight, and Tennessee remains very much in the mix as he closes in on a decision. The five-star from New Jersey has already taken official visits to Oregon, UCLA, Tennessee and LSU, giving each program a chance to make its case in person during a recruitment that has stayed active for months.
For Tennessee, the appeal is obvious: a player of Sabbs caliber can change the look of a class and raise the ceiling of what a recruiting haul can become. Oregon has been a steady presence throughout the process, but the final stretch has kept multiple contenders alive, with UCLA also making a late push after a June trip to Westwood. Sabbs choice is still pending, which leaves the Vols waiting to see whether their visit work pays off in a major way. [Read more 🡒]
Kim Caldwell Just Framed This As A Massive Lady Vols Year
Kim Caldwells second season in Knoxville ended with enough turbulence to force a full reset, and Tennessee answered by rebuilding the Lady Vols almost from scratch. Every possible returner entered the transfer portal, the staff replaced the roster with 15 new players, mostly transfers, and Caldwell also brought in new assistant coaches as the program tried to turn the page quickly.
The approach to the rebuild has been as blunt as it has been ambitious. Caldwell and her staff leaned into transparency with recruits, making it clear the job would be hard and the expectations would be high, including early-morning conditioning and an emphasis on culture over salesmanship. After a year that left little room for comfort, Tennessee is treating this season like a major proving ground for the program and for the coach leading it. [Read more 🡒]
Why Nate Ament Is Still Waiting On His Bucks Debut
Nate Aments next chapter in the NBA has already started in one sense, but the first real on-court glimpse with Milwaukee is still on hold. The former Tennessee standout, taken 13th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft, is the highest-drafted Vol of the Rick Barnes era, a milestone that underscores just how far his rise has come since his time in Knoxville.
For now, though, Ament is not on the Bucks initial summer league roster, so his debut will have to wait a bit longer. His draft rights are tied to the blockbuster deal that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami, and once that move becomes official, Ament could be added for the Las Vegas portion of summer league, leaving his first appearance with Milwaukee as the next item to watch. [Read more 🡒]