The Los Angeles Lakers just waived Exhibit 10 players Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones and Rafael Castro after their final preseason game, but don’t let those moves fool you. The real roster drama, the one with an actual ticking clock, revolves around Dalton Knecht. The Lakers only have until Monday to trim their 16-man roster down to 15 players, and it seems like everyone knows who the odd man out is.
Two Rookies Out, No Real Surprises
Let’s quickly cover the guys who just got the axe. Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones, 25, went undrafted in 2025. He put up some solid numbers overseas, averaging 15.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game in 29 starts in the Latvian-Estonian Basketball League during 2026, even winning Finals MVP in that league. But he didn’t even hit the floor for the Lakers in their final preseason loss to the Nuggets. Rafael Castro, also undrafted in 2025, saw a bit more time. He scored two points, grabbed three rebounds, and dished an assist in 10 minutes against the Golden State Warriors and then logged two rebounds in six minutes versus the Nuggets. Honestly, neither player was ever really expected to land a permanent spot with the Lakers this season. These moves are just clearing the decks.
The Dalton Knecht Dilemma: A Time Bomb Ticking
No, the actual fire the Lakers are trying to put out is Dalton Knecht. This third-year wing was the “odd man out” for most of last season too, and the team is openly looking to trade him. Head coach JJ Redick was pretty blunt about why Knecht’s role shrunk. Redick said, “I think the biggest thing is the team changed. The team changed. Needs changed, the fit changed.” He even acknowledged that Knecht has gotten better, but with the Lakers adding a bunch of new wings in the offseason like Quentin Grimes, Cameron Carr, and Matisse Thybulle, Knecht is definitely “in a tough spot right now.”
This isn’t just some minor roster adjustment. With that Monday 2:00 p.m. deadline looming, the Lakers absolutely need to find a way to get Knecht off their books before their season opener. They kick off their year against the Warriors at 7:00 p.m. PT. You gotta wonder if this whole roster situation, and specifically what happens with Knecht, will be hanging over their heads when the real games start. It’s going to be a wild Monday for Los Angeles.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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