# Lakers Waive Dalton Knecht After Failed Trade Efforts

> Lakers cut Dalton Knecht after multiple trade attempts failed, keeping Bronny James.
- Title: Lakers Waive Dalton Knecht After Failed Trade Efforts
- Summary: Lakers cut Dalton Knecht after multiple trade attempts failed, keeping Bronny James. Lakers waived Dalton Knecht, a former first-round pick, after failed…
- Keywords: lakers, dalton knecht, bronny james, nba, trade, roster, lakers draft, nba draft, sports, Waive, Dalton, Knecht
- Source: EssentiallySports — https://essentiallysports.com/nba-active-basketball-news-bronny-james-survives-as-los-angeles-lakers-cut-ties-with-former-first-round-pick-after-multiple-failed-trade-attempts-dalton-knecht
- Author: Ubong Richard
- Published: 2026-10-19T21:37:07+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: lakers, dalton knecht, bronny james, nba, trade, roster, lakers draft, nba draft, sports
## Lakers draft Dalton Knecht
On November 19, 2024, Dalton Knecht scored 37 points against Utah Jazz, hitting nine three-pointers to tie the NBA record for most threes by a rookie in a game.
## Knecht waived by Lakers
Less than two years later, the Lakers waived Dalton Knecht after failing to find a trade for him, while Bronny James remains on the roster.
## LeBron James' early praise
LeBron James called Knecht his favorite college player, saying he believed his game would translate to the NBA.
## Knecht's college stats
Knecht averaged 21.7 points per game at Tennessee, winning SEC Player of the Year and first-team All-American honors.
## Knecht's early NBA success
Knecht started nine straight games in November 2024, averaging 18.9 points and 4.9 rebounds.
## Knecht's defensive concerns
Scouts reported Knecht's defensive limitations, especially his lateral quickness and ability to handle defensive assignments.
## Knecht's 2025-26 decline
Knecht played 54 games in 2025-26, scoring 4.2 points per game and shooting 34.2% from three-point range.
## Mark Williams trade collapse
The Lakers agreed to trade Knecht to Charlotte for center Mark Williams but rescinded the deal after Williams failed his physical.
## Failed trade talks with Bucks
The Lakers explored sending Knecht and second-round draft capital to Milwaukee for Jericho Sims but the deal did not materialize.
## Lakers waive Knecht
The Lakers waived Knecht to meet the 15-player roster limit, leaving his $4,201,080 guaranteed salary with the team.
## Bronny James' progress
Bronny James increased his playing time from 6.7 to 8.9 minutes per game, improving his shooting percentages to 40.9% from the field.
## Knecht's future
Knecht's next opportunity depends on whether another team believes his shooting can outweigh his defensive limitations.
## Key takeaway

Lakers waived Dalton Knecht, a former first-round pick, after failed trade attempts, while Bronny James remains on the roster.