The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly looking into trading Dalton Knecht as they work to finalize their roster for the regular season.
The Lakers have been discussing a move involving Knecht, according to Brett Siegel. The update puts a specific name at the center of a roster decision that has followed Los Angeles throughout training camp.
As the 2026-27 season draws near and teams contemplate roster spots, the Knicks and Lakers have both actively been exploring trade talks to move Pacome Dadiet and Dalton Knecht, respectively, sources told @ClutchPoints.
More on both situations during our live show at 3:30 PM ET.
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) October 15, 2026
The Lakers and New York Knicks have “actively been exploring trade talks” involving Knecht and Pacome Dadiet, respectively. His report described separate situations for the two teams, rather than a proposed trade between Los Angeles and New York.
No destination for Knecht, potential return or agreement was identified in the post. The reporting nevertheless adds a significant detail to the Lakers’ ongoing search for a deal: Their efforts include moving Knecht.
That goes beyond Wednesday’s report about the Lakers exploring trades. Jake Fischer had identified Los Angeles as one of several teams active in discussions before the roster deadline, but his update did not name a Lakers player being shopped.
For Knecht, the latest report makes the final stretch of the preseason about more than earning minutes. His opportunity to pursue a role could depend on whether the front office finds a deal that sends him elsewhere.
Why the Lakers are exploring a trade
The Lakers entered camp with 16 guaranteed contracts, leaving them above the regular-season limit of 15 standard-contract players. They have been able to evaluate that group during camp, but keeping everyone is not a regular-season solution.
Rob Pelinka publicly discussed the possibility of a two-for-one deal during his Sept. 24 media availability. Pelinka framed the situation as both a competition for roster spots and an opportunity to consider trades.
Rob Pelinka addresses currently having 16 players on the roster, but only being allowed to carry to 15 come opening night. He said that this could create more competition in camp and the team can still pursue 2-for-1 "consolidation" trades in the meantime
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) September 24, 2026
A transaction that sends out two players and brings back one would reduce the roster by the necessary spot. Trading Knecht for another standard-contract player alone would not accomplish that, because the number of players would stay the same.
The structure of any eventual agreement therefore matters as much as the identity of the player leaving. The report report does not establish whether the Lakers are discussing Knecht individually, as part of a larger package or in multiple possible arrangements.
Pelinka’s earlier comments also should not be read as a requirement that any deal involve two outgoing players. They described one available approach, while Thursday’s report did not specify the terms of the discussions.
For Los Angeles, the basketball calculation is separate from the roster arithmetic. Removing a player addresses the count; finding a useful return would require another team to value what the Lakers are offering and an agreement that works for both sides.
Knecht faces competition for a role
Questions about Knecht’s place on the team preceded Thursday’s news. In the Oct. 1 reporting summarized in Lakers Daily’s earlier roster coverage, Khobi Price of the California Post cited rival executives who expected Knecht to be left out when Los Angeles trimmed its roster.
Those opinions came from outside the organization. They were not a Lakers announcement or confirmation that the team had decided to release him, and the new trade report still leaves the outcome unresolved.
Price’s reporting described a crowded wing group that included Quentin Grimes, Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Adou Thiero and Cameron Carr. Redick also offered a positive assessment of Knecht’s determination to earn playing time.
“I know he’s hungry to play and hungry to earn a spot in the rotation,” Redick said.
Knecht went scoreless in six minutes against Golden State on Tuesday, shooting 0-of-2.
That appearance alone cannot settle a roster decision, but it illustrates the limited opportunity available in his most recent game. Staying with the team would still leave him needing to establish a place in Redick’s preferred combinations.
The competition extends beyond the end of the bench. On Thursday, Grimes was asked about the two starting spots alongside Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Walker Kessler.
Quentin Grimes when asked if anyone on the Lakers knows who the other two LAL starters will be next to Doncic/Reaves/Kessler: “I don’t know. I guess you’re going to find out next Wednesday!”
Grimes said the process to identify the starters created “healthy competition” in camp pic.twitter.com/NlmOyl4hP5— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) October 15, 2026
“I don’t know. I guess you’re going to find out next Wednesday!” Grimes said.
Grimes also described the process as creating “healthy competition.” His answer did not reveal whether Redick had privately settled on a lineup, but it underscored that players were still awaiting clarity about those roles.
A trade and a roster cut carry different consequences
Waiving a player remains another way to reduce the roster. It does not, however, automatically erase guaranteed salary obligations.
The NBA’s collective bargaining guide includes money still owed to waived players in team salary, subject to adjustments. That distinction helps explain why a team might investigate the trade market before choosing a cut.
An assignment to the G League would not create the required opening, either. A player assigned there remains on his NBA team’s roster, while two-way contracts operate separately from the standard-contract limit.
There is also a familiar element to Knecht’s uncertainty. He was included in the Lakers’ February 2025 agreement to acquire Mark Williams from Charlotte, along with Cam Reddish and draft assets.
That trade was rescinded, leaving Knecht with Los Angeles. The current discussions represent a different decision.
No completed transaction has been reported, and the Lakers’ immediate task is settling the composition of their opening roster.
Whether Knecht remains part of that group will depend on what Los Angeles does next. Thursday’s reporting establishes that a trade involving him is being explored, with the destination and outcome still unknown.
