Lakers Waive Dalton Knecht in Latest NBA Rumors, Top Landing Spots for Former 1st-Round Draft Pick

The Los Angeles Lakers have parted ways with a former first-round draft pick.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the team has waived Dalton Knecht, the No. 17 overall pick in 2024.

It's likely only a matter of time before the sharpshooter finds a new team. One potential landing spot for him could be the Charlotte Hornets, who attempted to trade for him during the 2024-25 season.

Knecht was a standout at Tennessee during the 2023-24 season, winning SEC Player of the Year while leading the Vols to an Elite Eight appearance. The Lakers picked him up in the first round in 2024, hoping he'd give them an offensive boost off the bench.

He averaged 9.1 points per game while shooting 37.6 percent from deep in 2024-25, and there were flashes of an elite offensive talent, like a 37-point performance against the Utah Jazz.

But after playing 19.2 minutes per game as a rookie, he played about half of that in Year 2 and appeared in 54 games. By the end of the season, he had fallen almost completely out of the rotation.

Knecht finished the 2025-26 campaign averaging 4.2 points per game.

While the Lakers didn't have much of a spot for Knecht, a handful of other teams would surely be willing to give the young player a chance.

It's fair to assume the Hornets will at least check in on him given their previous interest. Charlotte attempted to trade center Mark Williams to the Lakers in return for Knecht ahead of the trade deadline in 2025, but Williams didn't pass his physical, and the trade was rescinded.

The Hornets are a much different team now, with LaMelo Ball in Minnesota, but they could still use a sharpshooter like Knecht to come off the bench.

The Orlando Magic also jump out as a team in need of offensive depth after a dissapointing ending to last season. The team has one roster spot available heading into the year and could use it on Knecht.