Dalton Knecht spent last season fighting for minutes on a 53-win roster, and this week rival executives are reportedly circling his spot on the depth chart. Camp has not confirmed anything, but the margins are already moving elsewhere on the roster.
The Knecht Squeeze
Lakers Nation reported that rival executives expect Los Angeles to waive Dalton Knecht before the roster settles, a margin move camp forces onto a stacked perimeter. Knecht sits behind Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves on a wing rotation already crowded by Quentin Grimes, Jaden Hardy and Collin Sexton, and a $204.0 million payroll sitting $3.6 million past the tax threshold puts a price tag on every open spot. Pelinka's front office has not confirmed the report, and three weeks of camp remain before any cut turns real.
Minutes That Already Moved
Luke Kennard's minutes climbed nearly ten a game above his season mark over his final ten outings last season, reaching 32.6 a game down the stretch. Rui Hachimura added eleven minutes a game over his last three outings last season once a teammate sat out, and his scoring rose to match the workload. Neither trend settles anything about this season's rotation, but both show how fast Redick's margins can shift once games start mattering.
The Clock to Tipoff
The preseason opens at the Kings on October 5, moves to the Warriors on October 6, comes home for the Kings on October 8 on ESPN2, and closes at home against the Warriors on October 13. The regular-season opener lands October 21 against the Warriors on ESPN, the first scorecard that counts for this version of the roster. Until then, every open question, Knecht's roster spot included, stays unresolved.
Will the Lakers cut Dalton Knecht?
Nothing is final. Lakers Nation reported that rival executives expect it, but Los Angeles has not confirmed any roster decision.
When do the Lakers play their first game of the 2026-27 season?
The preseason opens October 5 at the Kings, and the regular season opens October 21 at home against the Warriors on ESPN.
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