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Lakers cut Knecht; Knicks waste no time

Originally posted on Lindy's Sports | By Eman Zahra | Last updated Oct 24, 2026 2:33 PM ET

The 25-year-old wing agreed to a two-way contract with New York, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. To open the spot, RealGM reports, the Knicks waived Kevin McCullar Jr.

Los Angeles had 16 players under standard contracts and needed to get down to 15 by Monday’s 5 p.m. ET deadline, ABC7 noted in its report on the move. Rather than attach second-round picks to dump his deal, the Lakers chose to eat his guaranteed 2026-27 salary, according to Hoops Rumors. That also wiped out his $6.45 million option for 2027-28.

It was a quiet ending for the 17th pick of the 2024 draft. Knecht had real moments as a rookie, including a 37-point night, per his career log. But he eventually slid out of J.J. Redick’s rotation. Add the rescinded Mark Williams trade that briefly sent him to Charlotte, and the last two years have been bumpy.

Three other teams wanted him, and that tells you something

The Cavaliers, Kings and Timberwolves also showed interest, RealGM says. Teams rarely chase a player they’ve written off. Knecht had options and ended up with a team that just won it all.

Dalton Knecht was let go by the Lakers, but quickly signed with the Knicks.Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images

That’s a bet on himself. Two-way players can only spend a limited number of days with the big club, so he will likely bounce between Madison Square Garden and the G League team in Westchester. But New York is a better place than most to get noticed, and a good month in the minors can turn into a standard deal fast.

New York needs cheap depth because the second apron is watching

This isn’t only a feel-good landing. The Knicks are working under a hard financial ceiling. ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill wrote last month that the push to stay below the second apron already cost them backup center Mitchell Robinson, who signed with Boston. TSN reported that owner James Dolan has said he won’t let the team cross that line, so every dollar counts.

A two-way slot is about as inexpensive as roster building gets. If Knecht struggles, the Knicks lose almost nothing. If he rediscovers the touch from his rookie year, they have a legitimate scorer for the price of a camp invite.

They could use the insurance. The champs opened their title defense with a loss to Philadelphia, and a repeat run is long and unforgiving.

Watch two things. First, how quickly Knecht earns minutes wherever the Knicks put him, since teams don’t usually burn a roster move on someone they plan to ignore. Second, whether he can hold up on defense, which was always the question mark with him.

If the shot travels, the rest sorts itself out. Knecht has been the guy other teams wanted at a bargain price before. This time he gets to prove why.

This article first appeared on Lindy's Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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