The Los Angeles Lakers are dealing with an injury crisis at the worst possible time, with Austin Reaves now ruled out for the remainder of the regular season.
Reaves is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks after suffering a Grade 2 left oblique injury, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
He joins Luka Doncic on the injury list after the Slovenian star recently sustained a left hamstring issue and was later ruled out “indefinitely.”
With both players expected to miss extended time, likely stretching into the postseason, the Lakers’ playoff outlook has taken a significant hit.
Lakers Forced Into Rotation Shake-Up as Injuries Mount
The Lakers had been building strong late-season momentum, winning 16 of their last 19 games, but that progress has now been disrupted by a growing list of absences.
Marcus Smart has also been ruled out for the upcoming matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, marking his seventh straight missed game.
With the backcourt suddenly depleted, the Lakers have turned to their G League affiliate, recalling guards Kobe Bufkin, Nick Smith Jr., and Dalton Knecht, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
All three are expected to provide immediate depth, with Knecht emerging as a particularly intriguing option following his recent form at the G League level.
Since the collapsed trade to the Charlotte Hornets last season, Knecht has struggled to rediscover the form that made him an early bright spot in his rookie campaign.
In recent months, he has fallen out of the Lakers’ rotation entirely, logging just 36 minutes in February and 15 in March despite being available.
Whether Knecht will be given an extended opportunity to re-establish himself remains unclear, even with the team’s current injury situation.
Still, there is a growing sense that his long-term future in Los Angeles is uncertain.
Knecht is in the second year of a four-year, $18.4 million rookie contract, earning $4 million this season.
The Lakers have already exercised a $4.2 million team option for 2026-27, with another team option in place for the 2027-28 campaign.
Trade Speculation Grows as Dalton Knecht Seeks Opportunity
After being made available ahead of the February trade deadline, a move never materialized for Knecht. However, that may not be the case this offseason.
Lakers reporter Jovan Buha believes the organization will once again explore trade options involving the 24-year-old.
“They have some bid decisions to make,” Buha said on a recent livestream. “They are going to be shopping Dalton Knecht again this summer and trying to get off that.”
“Kobe Bufkin has a team option that they have to decide on. Bronny has a non-guaranteed contract that they have to decide on. So, it’s a big opportunity for those guys to show… like show something.”
With Doncic and Reaves sidelined, the Lakers may be forced to expand their rotation, potentially giving Knecht a renewed opportunity to prove himself.
He has already made a strong case to be reinserted into the line-up.
In a second-round G League playoff win over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Friday, Knecht delivered a standout performance, finishing with 24 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block.
Across six G League appearances this season, he has averaged 19.5 points while shooting 50.7% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.
Those performances suggest there is still untapped potential.
With the Lakers navigating a difficult stretch, Knecht could now have a final opportunity to showcase his value, whether for Los Angeles or for teams closely monitoring his situation ahead of the offseason.
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