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Dalton Knecht, a third-year wing player for an unnamed NBA team, is fighting to secure his spot on the roster as the regular season approaches in two and a half weeks. Despite showing promise early in his career with averages of 18.9 points and 4.9 rebounds during a nine-game stretch in November 2024, Knecht's playing time has decreased significantly due to injuries and team trades. Currently, he faces competition from newly acquired players like Quentin Grimes and Matisse Thybulle, who have received more attention from the coaching staff. Coach JJ Redick acknowledges Knecht’s hard work but hasn’t mentioned him as a key player for the upcoming season, suggesting that Knecht might be at risk of being cut to meet the league's 15-player limit.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Dalton Knecht, a third-year wing drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the 17th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is struggling to secure his spot on an increasingly crowded roster. Despite making a strong debut as a rookie, where he started nine games and averaged 18.9 points and 4.9 rebounds, Knecht's playing time has decreased significantly during his second season. In the 2025-26 season, Knecht logged only 553 total minutes across 54 games, down from 1,494 minutes in 78 regular-season games as a rookie. The Lakers are undergoing significant roster changes around star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, further complicating Knecht's chances of retaining his spot. This situation leaves Knecht vulnerable to being left off the final roster ahead of the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season starting in about two and a half weeks.
Written for “Lakers Roster Competition” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
It’s no secret that the Lakers are facing a roster crunch ahead of the regular-season start in 2 ½ weeks.
asserted
Lakers → ’ → weeks
That doesn’t bode well for Dalton Knecht, who could find himself on the outside looking in.
uncertain
who → bode → outside
Knecht, the third-year wing the Lakers selected with the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, made a big splash as a rookie.
asserted
Lakers → select → rookie
He was in the rotation from the start of the 2024-25 season, stepping into the starting lineup in mid-November amid injuries — which produced the best stretch of his brief NBA career: Knecht averaged 18.9 points and 4.9 rebounds in the final nine games of November 2024 (nine starts).
asserted
Knecht → step → November
Even when he hit a shooting slump in January and December, Knecht was still getting consistent playing time as a part of the rotation.
asserted
Knecht → hit → rotation
It looked like Knecht was going to come out of the slump after scoring 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the Lakers’ win over the Clippers on Feb. 4, 2025.
asserted
Knecht → look → Feb.
The Lakers included Knecht in the trade for Mark Williams that was rescinded, and Knecht’s playing time for the Lakers wasn’t the same after he returned to the team.
asserted
he → include → team
That was still true during Knecht’s second season with the Lakers in 2025-26: He played 553 total minutes during the regular season across 54 games after recording 1,494 minutes in 78 regular-season games as a rookie.
But with a significant roster reconstruction around star guards Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, there’s plenty of playing time to go around.
asserted
He → play → time
“It’s a whole new opportunity for all of us,” Knecht said on media day this week.
asserted
Knecht → ’ → day
“Like [coach] JJ [Redick] said, there’s a lot of minutes open.
asserted
Redick → say → minutes
But it’s unlikely Knecht will soak up those minutes.
asserted
Knecht → ’ → minutes
Until Thursday, Knecht wasn’t mentioned — directly or indirectly — by Redick or president of basketball operations/general manager Rob Pelinka during any of their media availabilities.
asserted
Knecht → mention → availabilities
Other wing players such as free agent additions Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, second-year forward Adou Thiero or rookie wing Cameron Carr had gotten significantly more attention as discussion points.
asserted
players → get → points
Not a good sign for Knecht, whom multiple rival executives expect to be the odd man out as the Lakers look to trim their roster from 16 players on standard NBA deals to the league maximum of 15.
asserted
Lakers → expect → 15
“First of all, he’s been a pro,” Redick said of Knecht on Thursday.
asserted
Redick → say → Thursday
Like he has since Day 1, he has worked his butt off all offseason.
asserted
he → work → butt
And he’s had a good three days of practice.
asserted
he → have → practice
So I don’t think his approach changes.
asserted
approach → think → ?
I know he’s hungry to play and hungry to earn a spot in the rotation.”
asserted
he → know → rotation
The Lakers still have time to sort out the roster crunch.
asserted
Lakers → have → crunch
As Pelinka pointed out, they don’t have to make a decision until the regular season starts.
asserted
season → point → decision
Remaining practices will determine who’ll stay with the team.
asserted
who → remain → team
And it will give the team time to survey the NBA landscape for consolidation trades.
asserted
it → give → trades
Even with the minimal things the Lakers have said about Knecht, it’s been what they haven’t said that’s stood out the most.
asserted
that → say → what
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