Lakers Face Monday's Roster Deadline With 16 Guaranteed Contracts; Opener Wednesday vs. Warriors
The Los Angeles Lakers must trim their roster by Monday's deadline. NBA teams may carry up to 21 players in the preseason but must cut down to a maximum of 15 standard contracts, plus three two-way players, before the regular season. Los Angeles holds 16 players on standard guaranteed deals, so at least one must leave the roster today.
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks are exploring trades to resolve their roster situations, and the Charlotte Hornets are also over the limit. Reporting by TalkBasket and others identifies guard Dalton Knecht as the leading candidate to be waived after his role shrank in head coach JJ Redick's rotation, while Jaden Hardy improved his standing with productive preseason play and Bronny James drew public praise from Redick. A trade remains an alternative to a waiver, and no final decision had been announced as of publication.
The Lakers went 53-29 last season but lost six main rotation players in the offseason, rebuilding around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves and adding center Walker Kessler to strengthen the interior.
Los Angeles opens the regular season on Wednesday, October 21, at home against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：洛杉矶市中心，湖人队主场所在地。照片：daytrip2007，CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。/ Photo: Downtown Los Angeles, home of the Lakers. Photo by daytrip2007, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
