Lakers and Grizzlies cut three camp players, but Dalton Knecht and two Memphis spots wait for Monday’s deadline

The Los Angeles Lakers and Memphis Grizzlies trimmed three camp players over the weekend, yet both still sit above the 15-man limit with the league’s roster deadline set for 5 p.m. ET on Monday, October 19. The Lakers need one more move and Memphis needs two, and in each case the decision now falls on players with guaranteed money.

Reports said Los Angeles released center Rafael Castro and forward Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones on Saturday, October 17. Both are expected to land with the club’s G League affiliate in Coachella Valley. The same day, Memphis announced it had waived forward Zach Cleveland, an undrafted rookie from Liberty who was on an Exhibit 10 camp deal.

The Lakers’ Knecht question

Cutting two camp bodies did not fix the real problem in Los Angeles: the club carries more than 15 players on guaranteed standard deals. Rather than eat a salary, the front office has spent the weekend trying to trade one away, and Dalton Knecht, the 17th pick of the 2024 draft, is widely viewed as the player most likely to go after slipping out of JJ Redick’s rotation.

Reports said the Lakers have called the Bulls and Jazz, among others, and confirmed earlier talks with Milwaukee. Jake Fischer described those Bucks conversations as exploratory, built around Knecht plus second-round draft capital for center Jericho Sims, while also hearing doubt that a deal gets done. If no trade lands, waiving a guaranteed player costs the same on the cap whichever day it happens, which is why the decision has been left until the final hours.

Memphis still has two cuts to make

After the Cleveland move the Grizzlies list 20 players: 17 on standard contracts and three on two-way deals, so two standard spots have to clear. Jaylen Wells is on a non-guaranteed contract but is expected to stay. Earlier reporting by Fischer pointed to Kris Murray and Micah Peavy, both acquired this summer, as the most likely to be traded or released. Cleveland, for his part, is expected to join the Memphis Hustle, where staying at least 60 days would earn him a bonus of about $91,000 under his Exhibit 10 terms.

Los Angeles and Memphis are not alone. The Mavericks, Rockets and Bucks also entered Monday with 16 standard contracts apiece, so the last few hours before opening week could still bring a trade or a surprise release.

What comes next

Both teams open on Wednesday, October 21. Memphis hosts the Utah Jazz at 8 p.m. ET (Game Center), and the Lakers host the Golden State Warriors at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN (Game Center).