Lakers waive former first-round pick Dalton Knecht to set 15-man roster

The Lakers are waiving Dalton Knecht to set their 15-man roster for the regular season, according to Shams Charania, with the team confirming the move in a press release. Los Angeles entered the day with 16 players on standard guaranteed contracts.

Knecht, the 17th overall pick in the 2024 draft, averaged 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per game over 51 appearances in 2025-26 after a promising rookie start faded. The three-point specialist made just 34.2% of his 2.1 attempts per game in his second season.

Knecht was traded to Charlotte at the 2025 in-season deadline, but the deal was rescinded two days later after the Lakers balked at the results of Mark Williams’ physical. Los Angeles scoured the trade market in recent weeks for a two-for-one deal or a taker for Knecht but found nothing.