Lakers waive Dalton Knecht

Sports · Heat 1.4 / 10 · 2 shows · 5m airtime

The Los Angeles Lakers waived Dalton Knecht, the No. 17 pick in the 2024 draft, on October 22, 2026, trimming the roster to 16 players under contract before the regular season. Knecht never regained his footing after the rescinded Mark Williams trade sent him to Charlotte and back. The discussion now centers on what the cut leaves behind: Bronny James, taken in the same draft class, holds a partially guaranteed deal and stands to get chances with Colin Sexton out on a calf injury and little backcourt depth behind him. Both Knecht and James were excused from practice on the day of the decision.

How 2 podcasts covered it

1. The Dan Patrick Show, 2026-10-23 (40:36 to 43:22)
   Reports the Knecht waiver and roster math
   McMenamin walks through the Lakers' roster math: they cut Dalton Knecht to get to 16 players, leaving Bronny James on a partially guaranteed deal. He expects a play-in-to-top-six team, not a 50-win three seed, and says a thin backcourt will force Bronny into chances.
   New angle: The Lakers waived Dalton Knecht, the No. 17 pick, to get down to 16 players under contract.
2. Nightcap, 2026-10-24 (48:24 to 50:40)
   Frames the waiver as Knecht versus Bronny
   Takes the Knecht waiver as a choice between Knecht and Bronny James, and reports that both players were excused from practice on the day of the decision. The rest is argument for Bronny's upside and defense, plus his cardiac injury and lost college years.
   New angle: Both Knecht and Bronny James were excused from practice on the day of the decision.