The Los Angeles Lakers are just weeks away from a mandatory roster cut, and it looks like Dalton Knecht is staring down the barrel. With LA having totally overhauled its roster this summer, they are currently over the league’s player limit, which puts some tough decisions right in front of them.
The “Odd Man Out” Vibe Is Strong For Knecht
Lakers insider Jovan Buha floated the idea of a consolidation trade, which could be the way LA trims down. Buha explained that a two-for-one, or possibly a three-for-two, trade would make sense, with the most straightforward path being “two of the back-end guys, let’s say Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy, for a backup center.” Yikes. This is a brutal turn for Knecht, especially after he kicked off his rookie year so well. Lakers head coach JJ Redick even went on record calling him a “pro,” noting how he’d “worked his butt off all offseason” and had “a good three days of practice.” Redick knew Knecht was “hungry to play and hungry to earn a spot in the rotation,” which makes this situation even more frustrating.
LA’s Losing Hope, But It’s Not The End For Him
Despite that early praise and effort, it appears the Lakers are losing faith. California Post’s Khobi Price spilled the beans, revealing that Knecht’s “chances of making the roster aren’t looking good.” Multiple rival executives apparently expect Knecht to be “the odd man out” as the Lakers try to slice their roster from 16 standard NBA deals down to the 15-player maximum. The word is that the Lakers are just totally stacked on the wings. Knecht, a former first-round pick, is known as a great shooter, but a “mental block” in LA after his trade seems to have caused a decline in his performance. It’s a tough break for the guy.
But here’s the kicker: if Knecht does get let go, it could actually be an incredible chance for him. There’s a real buzz that he’d land somewhere else with an “amazing opportunity” to play some serious, meaningful minutes. Sometimes all you need is a fresh start to ignite a career, and that might be exactly what gets this guy going again.
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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