Former Tennessee basketball star Dalton Knecht will be looking for a new home for the 2026-27 NBA season.
Knecht was waived by the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 19 as teams shaved their rosters down to 15 players prior to the start of the season on Oct. 20.
The Lakers drafted the 2024 SEC Player of the Year with the No. 17 pick in 2024. He was the highest-drafted player under Vols coach Rick Barnes before the Milwaukee Bucks selected Nate Ament at No. 13 in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Here are five NBA teams where Knecht would fit best.
Memphis Grizzlies
A homecoming, of sorts. Knecht's best chance to stick in the NBA would mean a return to the state of Tennessee.
The Grizzlies are in a full rebuild after trading Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and sharpshooting guard Desmond Bane.
They wound up at the top of the draft and selected forward Cameron Boozer.
Memphis won't be in title contention this season, which would provide minutes for Knecht to get on the floor. The Grizzlies don't have a strong guard or wing rotation, and despite his shortcomings on the defensive end, Knecht is still a capable scorer at the NBA level. In his 16 starts as a rookie, the 6-foot-6 forward averaged 16.7 points on 46.1% shooting from the floor and 39.5% from 3-point range.
Charlotte Hornets
Knecht's career derailed early after a rescinded trade that would've sent him to Charlotte, kept him in Los Angeles. The Hornets, though, are in a similar situation to Memphis. Charlotte retooled its roster around Brandon Miller after shipping LaMelo Ball to Minnesota.
Charlotte is further ahead in its rebuild than Memphis, but the Hornets are looking up at a stacked Eastern Conference with 10 playoff-caliber teams. The Hornets could use a scoring punch off the bench as they figure out how to contend with the top teams, and Knecht slides right into that role.
Philadelphia 76ers
Early in Knecht's rookie year with the Lakers, he erupted for 37 points in a win over the Utah Jazz. His teammate, LeBron James, famously criticized opposing NBA teams for allowing the Lakers to draft Knecht at No. 17.
James is now with the Philadelphia 76ers for one last title run before he retires. The Sixers have a deeper roster and championship aspirations. However, it's unlikely that James, 41, and the oft-injured 2023 MVP Joel Embiid will play the entire 82-game regular season schedule. Philadelphia could take a flier on Knecht to step in when its two superstars rest, and his shooting ability could swing a playoff game.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are another team with an eye on the 2027 NBA Finals after trading for Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo. The 2021 Finals MVP elicited a heavy cost, leaving Miami with a top-heavy roster and desperate for scoring talent.
In the offseason, they signed Klay Thompson, 36, and drafted dynamic scoring guard Ryan Conwell from Louisville. Knecht would add another level of outside shooting that the Heat are looking for.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks, the team that traded away Antetokounmpo, is in competition with the Sacramento Kings for the worst roster in the NBA. The Bucks have a dizzying mix of soon-to-be-traded veteran role players and unformed young talent, including Tennessee forward Nate Ament.
Milwaukee, like Memphis and Charlotte, is trying to find cornerstone pieces for the future. No one on its current roster would block Knecht from proving his ability at the NBA level.
Wynton Jackson covers high school sports for Knox News. Email: wynton.jackson@knoxnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: 5 NBA landing spots for Dalton Knecht after former Tennessee star cut by Lakers
