Dalton Knecht 2024 NBA Draft Scouting Report
- Height/Weight/Draft Age: 6’6″/212 lbs/23 years old
- Wingspan/Standing Reach: 6’9″/8’7.5″
- Primary Position: Wing
- Senior Season Stats: 21.7 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.8 APG, 45.8% FG, 39.7% 3PT, 77.2% FT, 0.7 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 1.7 TOPG
Strengths: Shooting, Finishing, Off-Ball Movement
Dalton Knecht might be the best shooting prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft. There’s a legitimate case. He is a true marksman who displayed an ability to hit shots even from NBA range during his lone year at Tennessee, converting 39.7% of his three-point attempts. 70% of all his jumpers last season were considered contested, and he still finished with a 59% True Shooting percentage, which is downright absurd. This guy is a dangerous shooter from basically anywhere. He shouldn’t be expected to continue that level of shotmaking against NBA length and athleticism, but his ability to score at three levels even while well-defended cannot be ignored.
Knecht is also an adept finisher at the rim, putting his strength and athleticism on full display. He’s a very good vertical athlete with the play strength and frame to finish through contact. It’s very tough to bully him at the rim, but even if he runs into a physical interior defender, he has the touch to finish around them with either hand. Knecht can leverage his accuracy from both three-point range and the midrange to bait defenders into hard closeouts before driving downhill to put pressure on the rim. He also has a fantastic motor and can attack tirelessly, something Rick Barnes often took advantage of.
Dalton Knecht is also a nightmare to defend off the ball. He’s an active mover, and defenses need to account for him cutting to the rim or curling around a screen ready to fire. Opponents can’t afford to lose sight of him; Knecht’s constant movement and ability to score from all three levels make him a threat wherever he happens to be on the court. He understands space and knows exactly where he can put the most pressure on an opposing defense. The spacing he offers with both his shooting and his off-ball movement is a major positive.
Weaknesses: On-Ball Defense, Tunnel Vision, Advantage Creation
At Tennessee, Dalton Knecht didn’t display the lateral athleticism to be an effective on-ball defender in the NBA. He isn’t quick enough to reliably contain guards or wings off the dribble. He has the length and frame to not be a total disaster, but definitely needs to improve defensively. Something interesting to note, however, is that Knecht finished second and first respectively among all 2024 NBA Draft Combine participants in the lane agility and shuttle run tests. Lateral movement is clearly something that he has been working on, but to what degree he has turned this weakness into a strength is yet to be determined in-game.
Tunnel vision is sometimes an issue for the Tennessee product. While much of that can be chalked up to the major offensive load he shouldered with the Vols, Knecht still forced a few too many shots. On one hand, the confidence he plays with is a plus. It’s possible that tunnel vision becomes less of an issue when he’s not the star of the show. Regardless, he needs to avoid being a ball-stopper at the next level. The bucket-getting is what makes him desirable, but Knecht can be even more dynamic if he picks his spots appropriately.
Finally, Dalton Knecht doesn’t project to be a high-level advantage creator in the NBA. While his shotmaking was absolutely elite, there’s also a reason that 70% of his shot attempts were contested. Knecht’s limited lateral athleticism and lack of elite burst hamper his ability to create much separation off the dribble. Combine this with his occasional bouts of tunnel vision and you’ll see some really ugly black hole offensive possessions. He is a decent passer, but his creative ceiling doesn’t appear to be particularly high. He’s functionally more of a connective (Knechtive, if you will) passer than an actual creator.
Best NBA Fit: San Antonio Spurs, Memphis Grizzlies, Portland Trail Blazers
There’s a sense in which it will be freeing for Dalton Knecht to not occupy the high-usage role he was given in Knoxville. Instead, he can run around off-ball and benefit from the playmaking of others while freeing up space for a primary creator to be more effective. Conveniently, there are three teams in his draft range that he would fit well on. He would be an excellent complement to Victor Wembanyama’s gravity in San Antonio, the Grizzlies could add an NBA-ready shotmaker to a squad ready to jump back into contention, or the Trail Blazers can bolster the supporting cast ahead of Scoot Henderson’s sophomore season.
NBA Comparison: Bogdan Bogdanović
When considering Dalton Knecht’s future NBA role, Bogdan Bogdanović feels like a solid comparison. The two have a similar frame and will operate primarily as off-ball shotmakers. Like Knecht, Bogdanović is a very good shooter from three-point and midrange distances. However, I do think Dalton Knecht will be better than Bogdanović at parlaying that marksmanship into rim pressure. Tim Hardaway Jr. also came to mind as a potential Knecht comp.
Draft Projection: Top-10 Pick
Following an All-American campaign and a good showing at the Draft Combine, Dalton Knecht will most likely hear his name called in the first 10 picks of the 2024 NBA Draft. Detractors look at his draft age and will scoff at the idea of selecting a 23-year-old that high. However, Knecht has the tools to contribute right away. He’s gotten better every season of his college career, and further development is not out of the question. The former Volunteer can absolutely return value in the early part of the draft.
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