Dalton Knecht's projected rookie contract value after sliding to the 17th overall pick
Dalton Knecht’s slide in the first round of the NBA Draft Wednesday night cost him millions. But Tennessee’s star wing is still projected to have a huge payday after being selected at No. 17 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sports business website Sportico projects Knecht to get $18.5 million over four years on his rookie contract, including $7.9 million guaranteed over the first two years of the deal.
Entering draft day on Wednesday, Knecht was widely projected to be a top-10 pick according to most mock drafts. The Charlotte Hornets at the No. 6 overall pick was a popular destination, as was the No. 8 pick to the San Antonio Spurs and the No. 9 pick to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Dalton Knecht: 21.7 points per game at Tennessee, 25.5 in SEC play
Sportico projected the No. 6 pick to be worth $34.1 million with $15.4 million guaranteed. The No. 8 pick was valued at $28.6 million with $12.9 million guaranteed and the No. 9 pick came with a projected $26.3 million contract, with $11.8 million guaranteed.
The 6-foot-6, 213-pound Knecht starred in his one and only season at Tennessee, after transferring to the Vols from Northern Colorado. He was a consensus First Team All-American and the SEC Player of the Year after averaging 21.7 points per game and 25.5 points in SEC play.
Knecht scored a career-high 40 points against Kentucky in his final game at Food City Center. He scored 30 or more points in eight games, 20 or more points in 19 games and 10 or more points in 32 of Tennessee’s 36 games.
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Dalton Knecht is eighth Tennessee player drafted during Rick Barnes era
Knecht is the eighth Tennessee player to be drafted during the Rick Barnes era, dating back to the 2019 NBA Draft, and is the highest pick during that span. Four of the eight players have been first round picks, with Knecht joining Grant Williams, Keon Johnson and Jaden Springer in the first round.
Johnson was selected at No. 21 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2021 NBA Draft, followed by Jaden Springer at No. 28 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Julian Phillips was selected in the second round, at No. 35 overall, by the Chicago Bulls in last year’s draft. Kennedy Chandler slid to the second round in 2022, taken at No. 38 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Tennessee had three players selected in the 2019 NBA Draft. Grant Williams went at No. 22 overall to the Boston Celtics, Admiral Schofield went at No. 42 overall to the Washington Wizards and Jordan Bone was one of the final picks, at No. 57 to the Detroit Pistons.
