Mock Draft Roundup: Where Dalton Knecht is projected in tonight's NBA Draft
Dalton Knecht on Wednesday night will become the eighth Tennessee Basketball player to be selected in the NBA Draft during the Rick Barnes era. The one-and-done transfer star for the Vols is projected widely to be a top-ten pick in the draft, which is set for an 8 p.m. Eastern Time start on ABC and ESPN.
Knecht will be Tennessee’s third lottery pick in the NBA Draft — Allan Houston was the No. 11 overall pick in the 1993 NBA Draft and Marcus Haislip was elected at No. 13 in 2002 — should he be selected in the first 14 picks.
Knecht was a First Team All-American and finished as a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year award after averaging 21.1 points per game last season and 25.5 in SEC play. He was First Team All-SEC and won SEC Player of the Year.
Here’s a closer look at where Knecht stands in multiple mock drafts entering draft day:
ESPN
No. 6 to the Charlotte Hornets
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony: “Charlotte has worked out Knecht, and his fit alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller appears to be strong with the perimeter shooting and all-around scoring prowess Knecht offers. If Knecht isn’t picked at No. 6, it might be because a player such as Sheppard or Castle (both of whom Charlotte has worked out) becomes available. Rival teams say they would be surprised to see Knecht fall past both the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio at No. 7 and No. 8, where he also seems to be coveted.”
The Athletic
No. 6 to the Charlotte Hornets
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie: “(Knecht’s) offense should translate to NBA settings. Not only is he a terrific shooter, especially off movement, but he’s also a higher-end athlete than most shooters. He can sky in transition and finish inside with hang time.”
On3
No. 6 to the Charlotte Hornets
On3’s James Fletcher III: “The Charlotte Hornets have a need between LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller as they continue to fill out the starting lineup, and the three options who make the most sense there are Reed Sheppard, Stephon Castle and Dalton Knecht. Trading up to secure their top option is also an option.”
Sporting News
No. 8 to the San Antonio Spurs
The Sporting News’ Kyle Irving: “The Spurs need spacing for (Victor) Wembanyama, and Knecht is one of the safest bets in this draft class. The senior wing established himself as one of the nation’s most consistent three-level scorers, averaging 21.7 points per game on 39.7 percent shooting from deep.”
Yahoo
No. 9 to the Memphis Grizzlies
Yahoo’s Krysten Peek: “The Grizzlies will likely take the best player available at No. 9 and, depending on who is still on the board, Knecht is a great option. He’s an older, experienced guard who was the best scorer in the SEC this season and can give solid minutes right away.”
SB Nation
No. 14 to the Portland Trail Blazers
SB Nation’s Steve Dewald: “Ideally, the Blazers avoid making two lottery selections this year. If Portland is unable to trade out of this slot, Dalton Knecht is a serviceable option. Knecht is a proven scorer and would boost the Blazers’ floor spacing immediately. Knecht was a subpar defender in college and that weakness could serve as an advantage for Portland next year. In order to increase their lottery odds for the loaded 2025 class, the Blazers could feature Knecht early and often.”
