Lakers likely to part ways with $18M disappointing first-rounder over Bronny James, Jaden Hardy

The Los Angeles Lakers are entering the Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves era this season after parting ways with LeBron James for the first time in almost a decade. With a new vision for the organization, the roster has also undergone some significant changes.

LA has made a little too much roster reconstruction, leaving the team with one player too many. The Lakers will have until the end of training camp to get everything sorted out.

“There are, however, obvious holes. With 16 roster spots, the Lakers would need to get rid of at least one player, though they can carry as many as 20 through training camp in October," Heavy.com's Sean Deveney wrote.

Several names have been mentioned as potential candidates to be traded or waived. It is unfortunate that the Lakers are in this position, as whoever gets the short end of the stick will likely be a young player trying to establish himself in the NBA. The candidates are believed to be Bronny James, Dalton Knecht and Jaden Hardy.

“Clearly, the Lakers need to dump someone, and I think it's going to be one of three players," Lakers insider Jovan Buha said. "It's going to either be Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, or Bronny James."

However, NBA reporter Evan Sidery recently reported that former first-round pick Dalton Knecht is viewed as the most likely player to be dealt or waived.

“Dalton Knecht is viewed as the most likely player on the Lakers to be traded before this season. Los Angeles offered Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaden Hardy in separate sign-and-trade packages for Jonathan Kuminga, which went nowhere. Knecht is on a $4.2 million salary for 2026-27,” Sidery posted.

The Lakers arguably stunted the growth and momentum of Knecht’s career when they traded him to the Charlotte Hornets, only for the deal to be rescinded. After returning to LA, Knecht has struggled to regain the consistency he showed early in his career.

Knecht is currently on an $18 million rookie contract. The former SEC Player of the Year got off to an impressive start in his NBA career, but things came to a halt during his rookie season. With the Lakers potentially moving him one way or another, the hope is that his next home can help him rediscover the player he showed he could be.

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