The Los Angeles Lakers are staring down a roster crunch right now, and honestly, it’s a mess they gotta fix before the regular season even kicks off. After saying goodbye to LeBron James for the first time in nearly a decade and bringing in three new starters, the team somehow has one more player than the regular-season limit allows. Something has got to give, and by the end of training camp, someone is definitely getting cut.
LA’s Roster Headache Is Heating Up
This roster situation is no joke. Sean Deveney from Heavy.com laid it out clearly, saying, “With 16 roster spots, the Lakers would need to get rid of at least one player, though they can carry as many as 20 through training camp in October.” That means they have a handful of guys who are essentially playing for their jobs, with about three or four players currently on that chopping block. It’s a tough spot to be in, trying to figure out who stays and who goes, especially with so many new faces already changing the team’s look.
Knecht’s Unfortunate Twist of Fate
One name keeps popping up in all this roster talk, and it’s a tough one to swallow for anyone who remembers his potential: former first-round pick Dalton Knecht. Lakers insider Jovan Buha put it bluntly, “Clearly, the Lakers need to dump someone, and I think it’s going to be one of three players. It’s going to either be Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, or Bronny James.” Knecht actually had a breakout first half of his rookie season, showing some real flashes, but then a rescinded trade later in the year just totally took the wind out of his sails. Lake Show Life’s Tyler Watts thinks Knecht is as good as gone, writing, “If the Lakers decline his option, there is no reason to keep him beyond the trade deadline. They will either trade him or just buy him out.” Watts adds that Knecht would be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, and Los Angeles would be limited in what they could pay to bring him back. It’s rough, especially considering the potential he showed when he first came into the league. The Lakers are just stacked with wing players right now, making it incredibly difficult for Knecht to find any consistent role in the rotation. His $18 million rookie contract is a big number for a guy who might not even be on the team soon.
It’s a shame how things have played out for Knecht, and you just gotta hope if the Lakers do part ways with him, some other team out there gives him a real shot. All he needs is that opportunity to prove he still has what it takes. The Lakers, meanwhile, have to make this tough call before October, shaping what their squad will look like when the regular season tips off.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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