Los Angeles Lakers Must Trade Dalton Knecht to Finalize Roster

Los Angeles Lakers Must Trade Dalton Knecht to Finalize Roster

The Los Angeles Lakers have a busy offseason ahead of them, and despite making significant roster changes, they still need to make a final move to finalize their 2026-27 roster. With 16 players currently on the roster, the team must cut ties with one player to meet the NBA's roster parameters. And according to Lakers writer Svyatoslav Rovenchuk, two players who could be on the chopping block are Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt.

Why Knecht's Future Looks Bleak

Knecht, who averaged just 4.2 points on 10.2 minutes per game for the Lakers last season, has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate for some time. And Rovenchuk believes that the team should consider cutting ties with him to free up cap space. "When looking up and down the Lakers roster, Dalton Knecht is an easy conclusion as to who the 16th player is in the pecking order," Rovenchuk wrote. "That makes him a prime candidate to leave the team via trade or an outright release."

Vanderbilt's Contract a Burden

Vanderbilt, who has two years and roughly $25.7 million left on his current contract, is another player who could be considered for release or trade. Rovenchuk believes that the team could get to 15 players with a waive-and-stretch of Vanderbilt's remaining money, but notes that this would still leave a significant amount of dead money on the cap books. "The main reason why this would not be at the top of the list is Vanderbilt's money would continue to linger for an extended period as a part of the books," Rovenchuk wrote. "That is not unbearable, but it is also not ideal for a franchise that wants to use free agency as a vehicle to improve their team."

What Comes Next?

The Lakers have a few options to consider as they look to finalize their roster. They could try to trade Knecht or Vanderbilt, or they could release one of the players outright. Whatever the team decides, it's clear that they need to make a move soon to meet the NBA's roster parameters. And with the 2026-27 season just around the corner, the Lakers can't afford to wait any longer.

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