The Lakers have exercised their team option for the 2026/27 season on forward Dalton Knecht, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link).
The option, which is for the third year on Knecht’s rookie scale contract, is worth $4,201,080 and is now fully guaranteed. The Lakers will face their next decision on the 24-year-old a year from now, when they’ll have to determine whether or not to pick up his $6,452,859 option for the 2027/28 season.
If that fourth-year option is exercised, Knecht would become eligible for a rookie scale extension during the summer of 2027, with potential restricted free agency on tap for 2028 if he and the Lakers don’t work out a new deal before then.
The 17th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Knecht got off to a great start as a rookie last season, averaging 12.2 points per game and making 43.9% of his three-pointers in his first 19 outings. However, he averaged just 8.1 PPG and knocked down just 34.8% of his outside shots the rest of the way while struggling defensively.
Knecht shot 32.1% from the field and 23.7% on three-pointers in six Summer League appearances and wasn’t any better in the preseason, with shooting percentages of 32.0% from the floor and 23.5% from beyond the arc in six outings. Still, the Lakers remain confident in his ability to turn things around, having picked up his 2026/27 option with plenty of time to spare before the October 31 deadline.
As our tracker shows, Knecht is the only Laker whose contract includes a rookie scale team option for ’26/27.
They’re holding on to the hope he can recoup some trade value
There may be guys on 2-way contracts who are better than him. Luckly for the Lakers, he may have special values to teams like Utah or Indiana.
Predicting Lakers’ regular season win total……
The Chosen Dud: 47
Cap & Crunch: 42
GWRS: 46
Same for me
41
now about those win total comments, in the 40’s, should you watch the preseason did you watch their first season game last night they’ll be lucky if they win 15 games they can’t shoot (there is one lone exception) and God knows they have absolutely no defense
I read the 40 some win predictions, and I would like to ask those people that put forth those numbers did they actually see the preseason or the game last night, it seems other than one person no one on the team can shoot the ball, and I don’t even know if the Lakers can use the word defense this season, because they sure can’t play it