Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, and Bronny James have emerged as the three most likely Lakers trade candidates as the team must cut its guaranteed roster from 16 players to 15 before opening night.
The Los Angeles Lakers will need to make another roster move before the start of the 2026-27 NBA season.
Bronny James
Position PG, SG
Age 21
Height 188 cm
Weight 95 kg
Birth place Akron, United States of America
Following the signing of Matisse Thybulle, Los Angeles now has 16 players under guaranteed standard contracts.
The Lakers can carry that number throughout the offseason but must reduce the roster to 15 players before opening night.
Speaking on his podcast, NBA reporter Jovan Buha identified Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, and Bronny James as the three players most likely to be moved as Los Angeles searches for a solution.
"Clearly, the Lakers need to dump someone, and I think it's going to be one of three players," Buha said. "It's going to either be Dalton Knecht, Jaden Hardy, or Bronny James."
Bronny James could bring Lakers an asset
According to Buha, Bronny may be the only one of the three players capable of bringing a meaningful asset back to Los Angeles.
The Lakers are not actively attempting to trade the young guard and remain pleased with his development. However, they would listen if another organization – potentially the team LeBron James eventually joins – made a serious offer.
"The Lakers are not actively trying to dump Bronny," Buha explained. "It is more so, 'We like this dude, we've developed this dude. If you want to make us an offer, we will evaluate it just like any offer for any player, but you're going to have to make us a real offer.'"
Credit Imagn/Scanpix
Buha does not expect Los Angeles to accept a heavily protected pick with little chance of conveying. He believes the Lakers would seek at least a legitimate second-round selection and potentially more.
A Bronny trade could therefore help Los Angeles clear a roster spot while adding draft capital that could later be included in a larger deal.
Lakers may need to attach pick to move Knecht or Hardy
The situation appears more difficult with Knecht and Hardy.
Buha expressed doubt that either player currently has enough trade value to bring an asset back to Los Angeles. Instead, the Lakers may have to attach second-round compensation to convince another team to absorb one of their contracts.
"I would be personally surprised if they get an asset back for Dalton Knecht or Jaden Hardy," Buha noted. "I think if the Lakers had a current trade on the docket where they could flip those guys and get back an asset, they would have already done that."
Knecht has been available in trade discussions for an extended period, but the Lakers have not found a deal they consider worthwhile.
Buha suggested the best-case outcome could be moving Knecht for a heavily protected second-round pick that is unlikely to convey. More realistically, Los Angeles may need to include draft capital to complete a salary-clearing transaction.
Hardy is believed to have an even more limited market. The Lakers acquired him and two second-round picks from the Washington Wizards in exchange for Deandre Ayton.
Buha believes moving Hardy would likely require Los Angeles to attach a second-round pick.
Credit IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect - Scanpix
Roster issue complicates Kuminga and Washington pursuits
Finding landing spots for Knecht or Hardy could also affect the Lakers' attempts to acquire another starting forward.
Los Angeles has been strongly connected to Jonathan Kuminga, but a potential sign-and-trade remains difficult because of his contract expectations, the Lakers' limited flexibility, and the need to redirect outgoing players to other teams.
Buha believes Knecht and Hardy would most likely be the two players moved if Los Angeles attempted to create sufficient room for Kuminga. However, the Lakers may struggle to send both players to the same destination.
Only a small number of teams possess the necessary salary and roster flexibility to absorb additional contracts, and several of those organizations already have full rosters.
The Lakers have also been linked with PJ Washington. Acquiring additional draft capital by moving one of their current players could allow Los Angeles to make a more aggressive offer to Dallas.
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