The Lakers have officially announced the release of Galton Kneckert as part of their roster adjustments.

October 20th - According to ESPN , the Los Angeles Lakers officially announced the waiver of Dalton Kneckert, the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft .

Kneckert was selected 17th overall in the first round of the 2024 NBA draft by the Lakers, following a standout performance at the University of Tennessee. His rookie season in the NBA started well, averaging 18.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in a nine- game stretch in November 2024 , shooting 55.4% from the field and an impressive 52.2% from three-point range .

However, Knecker failed to maintain this performance. In his rookie season, he played 78 games, averaging 9.1 points and 2.8 rebounds, with a field goal percentage of 46.1% and a three-point percentage of 37.6% . In his second season, his playing time dropped from 19.2 minutes per game to 10.2 minutes, and his average stats also declined to 4.2 points and 1.4 rebounds.

During the preseason this month, Knecott played 4 games, averaging only 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds per game, with a field goal percentage of 25% and a three-point percentage of only 14.3% .

According to reports, the Lakers attempted to package Kneckert with another player in a trade to acquire a center, but the two sides failed to reach an agreement by Monday's trade deadline.

Ahead of the Lakers' preseason finale game against the Denver Nuggets last week, Lakers head coach JJ Redick discussed the reasons for Knecker's stagnation. Redick stated that the team's roster and needs have changed, and the players' adaptation has changed accordingly. He believes Knecker has made significant progress over the past two years, especially last season, as injuries led to more opportunities for other players.

Image source: Internet