The Lakers just bought themselves another year to figure out who Dalton Knecht really is.
According to multiple reports, Los Angeles has officially exercised Knecht’s team option for the 2026-27 season, worth about $4.2 million. It’s a low-risk move, but one that carries big implications for how this front office views his place in their long-term plans.
When the Lakers drafted Knecht 17th overall in 2024, he was billed as one of the most NBA-ready players in his class. A polished scorer who could stretch the floor around LeBron James and Luka Doncic. And early on, he looked the part. Through his first month, Knecht was averaging 12 points per game on nearly 44% from three, moving confidently off screens and spacing the floor exactly the way JJ Redick’s system needed.
A Promising Start Turned Into Rookie Growing Pains
Then came the adjustment wall. Opposing defenses started closing out harder, and his efficiency began to dip. His defensive weaknesses were exposed against quicker wings. By the end of the season, Knecht’s role had shifted from nightly rotation lock to matchup-dependent shooter, averaging just over eight points per game.
Still, for a Lakers team that’s desperate for consistent shooting and youthful energy, this was an easy decision. Exercising his option locks in another cheap year before he becomes extension-eligible. It also preserves flexibility for trades, should his name resurface in talks. And that’s something that already happened with the rescinded trade for Mark Williams from Charlotte.
The Clock Is Ticking on Knecht’s Long-Term Future
The next step is what matters. The Lakers have until next October to decide on his 2027-28 option (roughly $6.45 million). Picking that up would make Knecht eligible for a rookie-scale extension in 2027 and restricted free agency in 2028. In other words, the team has one more season to see whether he’s a long-term piece they can build with, or another replaceable asset in a revolving door of role players.
The faith is there, but so is the clock. Knecht’s best path forward is clear: refine his defense, improve his reads as a cutter and connector, and bring back the confident shot-making that made him one of the SEC’s most feared scorers.
The Lakers have bet that his story isn’t finished. Next season, it’s up to Dalton Knecht to prove that this option year wasn’t just a pause button — it was a preview of something more.
