With Dalton Knecht waived at Monday’s roster deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers did what everyone expected. They released the 17th pick in the 2024 draft to get from 16 guaranteed contracts to the 15 allowed in the regular season. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported it first, and the team then confirmed the move in a press release, per Hoops Rumors. No trade came together. The Los Angeles Times reports that talks with the Milwaukee Bucks about center Jericho Sims broke down when the Lakers would not give up multiple second-round picks. That leaves Jaden Hardy, Bronny James and Jarred Vanderbilt on the roster for Wednesday’s opener against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.
Our Lakers roster deadline story laid out where things stood Monday morning. Here is how it ended, and what the final roster looks like.
Dalton Knecht Waived: The Details
- The move: Knecht was waived Monday, before the 2 p.m. PT deadline.
- The money: the Lakers owe his $4.2 million salary for 2026-27. Hoops Rumors reports that the waiver voids his $6.45 million team option for 2027-28 and puts him on track to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday. He would be eligible for a two-way contract with another team.
- Why no trade: Hoops Rumors says Knecht had negative trade value, and the Lakers had little draft capital to attach. The Times reports they have only three second-round picks available to trade, in 2031, 2032 and 2033. They don’t control their own first-round pick until 2032 after the Walker Kessler trade with Utah.
- Practice: JJ Redick said Knecht had an “excused absence” from Monday’s practice, per the Times.
How Knecht’s Lakers Career Went
Knecht’s start was impressive. NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin notes he averaged 12.2 points and shot 43.9% from three over his first 19 games as a rookie. The Times recalls his 37-point game against the Utah Jazz in November 2024, when he tied the rookie record with nine three-pointers. Then came the 2025 trade to the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams, which the Lakers rescinded two days later after Williams’ physical. Knecht never got back into the rotation.
Last season he averaged 4.2 points in 10.2 minutes and shot 34.2% from three, according to NBC Sports, Hoops Rumors and the Times. In the preseason, he played 14 minutes across the final two games, per the Times.
Redick explained the decision last week. “The team changed,” he said. “The needs changed, the fit changed. I think he got better as a player over the last two years.”
The Final 15
Sports Illustrated’s Lakers on SI lists the regular-season roster:
- Guards: Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Collin Sexton, Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy, Bronny James, Matisse Thybulle, Cameron Carr
- Forwards: Ziaire Williams, Jake LaRavia, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Jarred Vanderbilt, Adou Thiero
- Centers: Walker Kessler, Kevon Looney
- Two-way: Arthur Kaluma, Chris Manon, AK Okereke
The roster still has no third center. The Times reports the Lakers wanted to firm up the backup center spot behind Kessler, and the Sims deal was meant to do that. Lakers reporter Jovan Buha has said a backup center move is more likely around the trade deadline. Any move before then is unconfirmed.
Who Stays
Waiving Knecht means the other back-of-the-roster players all open the season with the team, Hoops Rumors notes. Jaden Hardy, acquired from the Washington Wizards in the Deandre Ayton trade, scored 13 points in the preseason finale. Bronny James, the 55th pick in the same 2024 draft, worked his way into the postseason rotation last season during the backcourt injuries and shot 38.6% from three in the regular season, per the Times. Jarred Vanderbilt did not play in the preseason finale. Hoops Rumors had listed all three as possibly at risk if a trade had brought back an extra player.
Collin Sexton Returns to Full Practice
The best news Monday was Collin Sexton. He was a full participant for the first time since training camp opened, per the Times, after missing all five preseason games with a lower right leg injury. He would not commit to playing Wednesday.
“We’ll be taking it day by day,” Sexton said. “At the end of the day, I had a really good practice today, felt good. Super excited to be back out there with the guys, so I look forward to it.” He said he still has “some tightness and stuff” in the leg, “but I feel pretty good.”
Doncic welcomed him back. “He’s another guy that can bring the ball up and can create his own [mismatch],” Doncic said. “So we’re excited to have him back.” Sexton signed a two-year, $19.2 million deal this summer, per the Times.
Infanity TV was at Monday’s practice:
Doncic also talked about his leadership role: Luka Doncic on Leading the Lakers: “I’m Just My Own Leader”.
Opener Injury Watch
- Collin Sexton (lower right leg): full practice Monday, day-to-day.
- Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr: missed Monday’s practice, per the Times. No reason was given.
- Bronny James: excused from practice. Redick said some players were “under the weather.”
Redick still has not named a starting five. Doncic, Reaves, Kessler, Williams and Thybulle started the preseason finale. Redick has also said Grimes will “start a lot of games for us.” The team’s first official injury report is expected Tuesday.
Source Notes
- Knecht’s 2025-26 games: Hoops Rumors lists 51 appearances. NBC Sports and Basketnews list 54. Both use the same 4.2-point and 10.2-minute averages.
- His rookie average: Lakers on SI says 9.4 points, while Basketnews says 9.1 in 78 games. We have not settled which is right.
- The Bucks talks: Jake Fischer reported a framework built around second-round capital. The Times reports the talks broke down over the Lakers’ unwillingness to give up multiple second-rounders. Those two accounts fit together.
Wednesday: Warriors at Lakers
The season opens Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena. Golden State beat the Lakers 101-89 in Las Vegas on October 13, with Doncic sitting out. Wednesday is the first time this group plays a game that counts.
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