Dalton Knecht’s time with the Los Angeles Lakers, just two years after they snagged him in the first round of the 2024 draft, could be on the verge of ending. Seriously, this is wild. Multiple rival executives are reportedly eyeing him as the “odd man out” as the Lakers need to cut their roster down from 16 players on standard NBA deals to the league maximum of 15. Talk about brutal.
From First-Rounder to Roster Bubble
The pressure on Knecht is apparently intense, with ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reporting last week he’s in a straight-up fight for his roster spot with Jaden Hardy in training camp. Remember, this is a guy the Lakers took 17th overall back in ’24! He played in 78 games his rookie year, putting up 9.1 points in 19.2 minutes per game. Not bad, right? But then the sophomore slump hit hard. He fell right out of coach JJ Redick’s regular rotation, clocking in just 4.2 points in 10.2 minutes over 54 contests, and yeah, he struggled on defense. It got worse: a midseason shooting slump in January saw him bricking from deep, hitting just 22.2 percent over 12 games before he completely vanished from the rotation down the stretch. Knecht himself said he’s hoping his shooting, rebounding, and “high effort on the defensive end” will keep him in the Lakers lineup. He’s got his work cut out for him.
Jaden Hardy’s Ascendance Could Be the Nail in the Coffin
So, who’s the guy potentially pushing Knecht off the island? Jaden Hardy. The Lakers picked him up this July, packaged with two second-round picks, as part of the Deandre Ayton trade. Hardy averaged 9.2 points in 15.8 minutes per game last season, splitting his time between the Washington Wizards and Dallas Mavericks. Redick has already sung Hardy’s praises, naming him as a player he thought could pick up ball-handling duties when Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves aren’t running the show “if he’s in the lineup” this season. When Redick was asked about Knecht on Thursday, he just offered a more measured response, saying Knecht had enjoyed a “good three days of practice” and was “hungry to earn a spot in the rotation.” That’s a huge contrast in confidence, isn’t it?
The clock is absolutely ticking for Knecht. The Lakers’ preseason kicks off next Monday against the Sacramento Kings. This is his final shot to show that development he’s hoping for. By October 19 at 5 p.m. ET, when Opening Day rosters are officially due, we’ll know if he’s still in the Lakers’ plans or if his NBA dream, just two years after a first-round pick, has hit a brick wall. This is high stakes basketball, folks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply