The Los Angeles Lakers emerged from their four-day NBA Cup break hoping to regain momentum. Instead, they find themselves shorthanded once again — and searching for answers as injuries continue to reshape their rotation.
Already without starting guard Austin Reaves due to a lingering left calf strain, the Lakers were dealt two more blows Thursday morning. Center Deandre Ayton was ruled out with elbow soreness, and reserve guard Gabe Vincent was added to the injury report with lower back tightness ahead of Los Angeles’ road game against the Utah Jazz.
The team announced Vincent will be reevaluated in approximately one week, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Gabe Vincent Injury Adds to Lakers’ Growing Backcourt Concerns
Vincent’s latest setback further strains a Lakers backcourt that has struggled to maintain continuity. The veteran guard had already missed three weeks earlier this season due to a sprained left ankle and was still working his way back into rhythm.
Before being sidelined again, Vincent was averaging 4.7 points while shooting 36.2% from three-point range in 21.5 minutes across 14 games. While the scoring numbers were modest, his defensive presence and ball pressure had been valuable for a team searching for stability on the perimeter.
With Vincent and Reaves both unavailable, head coach JJ Redick must lean deeper into the roster — a scenario that could accelerate opportunities for younger players.
Dalton Knecht Recalled as Lakers Search for Rotation Answers
One immediate beneficiary of the Lakers’ thinning depth is second-year wing Dalton Knecht, who was recalled from the G League after a brief assignment with the South Bay Lakers.
Knecht had fallen out of the regular rotation in recent weeks and was sent down alongside rookie Adou Thiero. For a young player navigating the adjustment to NBA speed and expectations, the move could have gone in either direction.
Instead, Knecht responded with composure.
In a matchup against the San Diego Clippers, Knecht erupted for 30 points in a 127–118 win, displaying the offensive traits that made him a coveted shooting prospect. He spaced the floor effectively, moved well without the ball, and played extended minutes that allowed him to settle into a natural rhythm.
The performance wasn’t about dominating the ball. It was about comfort.
Knecht knocked down open shots, made simple reads, and stayed engaged defensively — a meaningful step for a rookie whose biggest challenge this season has been finding a consistent footing.
JJ Redick Explains Knecht’s G League Assignment
Redick emphasized that Knecht’s stint in the G League was never intended as a demotion, but rather an opportunity for development.
“When we first kind of talked about it as a staff, we ran it by RP [Rob Pelinka],” Redick said. “RP had communicated to Dalton and his agents early before we kind of made the final decision.
“I just told him, he needs to play. [Knecht] gonna get opportunities on this team. He’s already had some opportunities, played well in some. He’s gonna help us at some point. Right now, he needs to play and he needs to have fun playing.”
That clarity appears to have resonated.
Injuries Create Opening for Knecht to Carve Out Role
Knecht entered the league with a defined offensive profile: shooting, spacing and secondary scoring. Early flashes last season suggested he could fill that role, but his place in the rotation has fluctuated, particularly after he was included in a trade framework for center Mark Williams that was later rescinded.
Since then, minutes have been inconsistent, and opportunities to play through mistakes have been limited.
This season, Knecht is averaging 6.4 points on 47.1% shooting. He has reached double figures in four games, including a season-high 16 points against the Portland Trail Blazers early in the year. The efficiency has been respectable; the impact has varied.
Now, injuries may force the Lakers’ hand.
With Reaves and Vincent sidelined and the team still searching for perimeter defense and shooting, Knecht has a chance to compete for a more permanent role in Redick’s rotation — or at minimum, showcase his value as Los Angeles explores upgrades at the wing.
Lakers’ Depth Tested as Season Pressures Mount
The Lakers’ injury concerns come at a delicate time. Tied for third in a tightly packed Western Conference, Los Angeles cannot afford prolonged instability, especially on the defensive end.
Ayton’s absence leaves a void in the middle, while the loss of Vincent and Reaves strains a backcourt already vulnerable to pressure.
For Redick, balancing short-term survival with long-term development remains a delicate task.
For Knecht, the message is simple: opportunity has arrived again.
What he does with it could help determine not only his future with the Lakers but also how the team navigates an increasingly challenging stretch of the season.
Lakers’ Injury Crisis Forces Rotation Shakeup