Though most analysts view the 2024 NBA Draft class as weak, Tennessee Volunteers guard Dalton Knecht might be the undiscovered talent that teams have been searching for.
Among the top draft prospects, CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander believes Knecht has the most upside and will have the best pro career.
“I debated who to go with at number one a dozen times. In the grand scheme of things, I’m predicting that the unpredictability of this year’s draft class will result in an unexpected player being selected as the top pick—and that player being selected outside of the top five,” Knecht’s analyst Norlander wrote.
“I’m gambling on picking him to be the best NBA player of 2024’s draft class because of his dead-eye aim, his size, confidence, toughness and ability to be a flamethrower in the NBA.”
Teams will probably be drawn to Knecht because of his size (6-foot-5, 204 pounds) and scoring prowess. The 23-year-old averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 46.1% field goal shooting in 36 games during the previous season.
Knecht also demonstrated his ability to step up under pressure. The 2023–24 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year scored 26 points per game while shooting an incredible 40% from three points distance during the NCAA Tournament.
Knecht is ranked as the ninth-best prospect in the class by Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. Even though he highlighted his shooting prowess, he also mentioned that the guard needs to work on his lateral agility to keep from being a liability on defense.
“[Knecht is] targeted by opponents because he’s usually the weakest link on defense,” O’Connor stated. “This will often be true in the NBA, too, unless he improves his ability to move laterally.”
Even with the defensive worries, Knecht might end up being one of the better players selected in this selection. Teams are obviously envious of his skills.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have the Charlotte Hornets selecting Knecht with the No. 6 pick in their most recent mock draft. Givony said that “teams in the Nos. 4–9 range [are] all expressing significant interest, except Detroit at No. 5,” therefore it would be shocking if he dropped out of the top 10.
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