Lakers Cut Dalton Knecht After Concerns Over His Development

The Los Angeles Lakers have waived Dalton Knecht after determining that his recent production and development did not justify keeping him on the roster, according to Lakers insider Jovan Buha. The decision, reported on October 21, 2026, ended the team's tenure with the forward, whom Los Angeles drafted two years earlier, as it finalized its roster under NBA limits. Buha described a decline in Knecht's confidence, performance, and engagement with teammates as factors behind the decision.

The Lakers reportedly preferred to retain Bronny James and Jaden Hardy, leaving Knecht as the player released to meet roster requirements. Discussing Knecht's struggles, Buha acknowledged that the forward had delivered promising performances but failed to sustain them.

"He's had some flashes, he's had some moments. He did have a couple of big games over the course of that season. He did have a couple nice performances last season, but he was never the same player from a production standpoint, from a confidence standpoint, from a mentality standpoint.

At times, he seemed to lack confidence, seemed to be a bit checked out with the group. You know, the body language was not great, and he just ultimately, I think, became a shell of his former self." said Jovan Buha, Lakers insider.

Knecht arrived in Los Angeles with expectations of becoming a productive perimeter shooter. LeBron James had previously described the draft selection as a steal, with the Lakers anticipating that Knecht would capitalize on James' playmaking to develop into an elite three-point threat. The arrival of Luka Doncic through a major trade with the Dallas Mavericks gave the Lakers another elite passer who could create scoring opportunities. However, Knecht struggled to establish himself despite playing alongside high-level playmakers.

His difficulties became more apparent last season under head coach JJ Redick, who removed him from the rotation. According to the source report, injuries to Doncic and Austin Reaves also failed to create a sustained opportunity for Knecht, whose shooting struggles continued. A rescinded trade involving the Charlotte Hornets also marked a difficult period in Knecht's Lakers tenure. Los Angeles had agreed to a deal intended to bring center Mark Williams to the team, with Knecht moving to Charlotte as part of the transaction.

The Lakers ultimately withdrew from the trade after an issue emerged during the physical evaluation process, sending both players back to their original teams. Knecht returned to Los Angeles, but his role subsequently diminished. He fell behind Luke Kennard and Marcus Smart in the team's rotation, according to the report.

The combination of reduced playing time, inconsistent shooting, and stalled development preceded the Lakers' decision to release him. Knecht is now without an NBA roster spot following the move. His departure comes two years after the Lakers selected him in the draft, ending the team's attempt to develop him into a reliable scoring option.