The Los Angeles Lakers have been in different trade conversations the whole offseason with players like Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht as possible pieces to acquire a more impactful player.
Now, according to Lakers reporter Trevor Lane, the team has until October 31 to make a decision on Knecht as to whether they want to keep him or not past the upcoming season.
"The Lakers have until Halloween to make a decision on Dalton Knecht and that decision is their team option on his contract next year, which is $6.4 million," Lane explained on the Lakers Nation YouTube channel.
"I would have to assume, unless he is right now showing up at the training facility and just dominating and then he gets into preseason and looks like the guy we thought he was going to become in the first few months after the Lakers drafted him, otherwise, I have a hard time imagining they're going to pick up that team option, but they have to make that decision by then."
Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt still being explored for Lakers trade?
Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht
Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht
Dalton Knecht and Jarred Vanderbilt are two of the most prominent trade candidates throughout the offseason rumors around the Los Angeles Lakers and NBA insider Jake Fischer believes they are still on the trade block.
"I do think that the Lakers are still going to be looking at potentially trading Dalton [Knecht], Jarred Vanderbilt," Fischer said, "I think there's plenty of time here before they have to make a decision.
"They do, I believe, still want to make some type of trade upgrade at the wing/forward spot after missing out on Jonathan Kuminga. I do think the Lakers are incomplete right now moving forward."
After a promising rookie season, Knecht completely fell out of JJ Redick's rotation during his second NBA season. His numbers declined to 4.2 points in 10.2 minutes after averaging 9.1 points in 2024-25.
Meanwhile, Vanderbilt has continued to surface in Lakers trade discussions. After averaging 4.4 points and 4.5 rebounds across 65 games last season in Los Angeles, he is set to make $12.4 million in 2026-27, with a player option for the 2027-28 season.