Rafael Castro and Aniwaniwa Tait-Jones just got waived by the Los Angeles Lakers. But if you thought that meant Dalton Knecht was finally safe from the roster bubble, you’re dead wrong. The dude everyone thought was a goner is still on the chopping block, and the clock is seriously ticking for LA to figure things out before the regular season kicks off.
Dalton Knecht’s Uphill Battle Continues
Let’s be real, Knecht has had a tough road since the offseason began. He was widely viewed as the guy most likely to be let go, even before preseason games started. Lakers analyst Trevor Lane wasn’t pulling punches either, saying his assumption was that if the team had to make the call right now, they wouldn’t pick up Knecht’s $6.4 million team option. He’s got until Halloween to somehow change their minds, which feels like an eternity but is actually super close.
Even head coach JJ Redick explained why Knecht is in such a brutal spot. “I think the biggest thing is the team changed. The team changed. Needs changed, the fit changed,” Redick told the media ahead of Friday’s preseason finale. He acknowledged Knecht has gotten better as a player, especially last year with all the injuries creating opportunities. But this season is different. “I just think coming into this year, we added a lot of wings and he’s in a tough spot right now,” Redick said. Ouch. You gotta feel for the guy when the coach is being that blunt.
The Cuts Are In, But The Puzzle Remains
So, on Saturday, LA announced they waived Castro and Tait-Jones. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin confirmed the moves, noting the team still has a couple of training camp practices left before Wednesday’s regular season opener. Here’s the kicker though: neither Castro nor Tait-Jones were part of the 16-man roster. That means cutting them doesn’t really get the Lakers any closer to that final 15-player roster spot, and Knecht’s situation hasn’t changed a bit. He’s still there, still waiting, and still very much on the bubble.
These latest moves, or lack thereof when it comes to Knecht, are screaming one thing: the Lakers are definitely still exploring a potential trade to finalize this roster. They’ve gotta get to 15, and they’ve already made several moves this offseason to reach this point. Waiving two guys who weren’t really in the immediate picture just means the big decision, specifically about Knecht, is still hanging out there.
Time is absolutely running out for Los Angeles. The regular season starts on Wednesday, meaning they need to resolve Knecht’s roster situation, and any other lingering questions, pretty much ASAP. It’s going to be wild to see what they do. Their opener against GSW is looming, and they’ve got to hit the ground running with a finalized squad.
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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