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Jamaaliver wrote:

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Dalton Knecht | Tennessee | Senior

6'6" | 195 lb | Wing | 19 years old

Do-it-all scorer from all areas of the floor who has a tendency to catch fire.

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Shades of: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Max Strus

PLUSES

• A dynamic, knockdown 3-point shooter from deep ranges. He can sprint into the wing or readjust in midair to fire accurately coming off of screens.
  
• Talented shooter off the dribble with multiple moves to create space. Tennessee relies on him in must-score situations, and he has a feel for running the pick-and-roll, so he could develop into a primary option. At a minimum, his handle makes him a weapon attacking closeouts, slashing, and running transition offense.
  
• Ambidextrous at-rim finisher with the athleticism to take off from distance, the strength to handle contact, and the touch to lay it up from any angle.
  
• Displays playmaking instincts. He calmly handles double-teams and finds open teammates with decisive passes.
  
• Does all the little things. He’s an active and aware cutter who’s always looking for opportunities, and the offense draws up plays to get him lobs, too. Against mismatches, he’s even displayed a good feel for finishing out of the post. All these tricks give him additive value beyond his perimeter scoring.

MINUSES

• Targeted by opponents because he’s usually the weakest link on defense. This will often be true in the NBA, too, unless he improves his ability to move laterally.
  
• If he’s going to become more of a shot creator, he needs to prove it against lengthier defenders. During his game against Kansas earlier this season, he went 4-for-17 from the field and seemed overwhelmed by the Jayhawks’ size.

Jeremy Woo wrote:2024 NBA draft rankings

13. Dalton Knecht | SG/SF | Tennessee

6-6 | Age: 22.8

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Continuing on his offensive tear as one of the best scorers in college basketball, highlighted by last week's 39-point showing against Auburn, Knecht has played himself into lottery conversations with his versatile offense, consistency and competitiveness. He is unlikely to ever add a ton of value defensively due to his foot speed, but his legitimate positional size at least gives him a better chance of being effectively hidden on that end, if needed. He'll be 23 years old on draft night, but teams in need of immediate wing help will have to think hard about what Knecht could provide, as he has proved capable of doing much more than simply spacing the floor.

Jamaaliver wrote:Dude will be a 20 ppg scorer in the NBA by season 2.

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jayu70 wrote:How's his defense?

Jamaaliver wrote:

jayu70 wrote:How's his defense?

Awful.

Like Trae awful.

But at 6'6" 200+ pounds, he at least can be hidden on forwards (and Centers in the corner.)

jayu70 wrote: ....how many players are we gonna have to hide?

Jamaaliver wrote:

jayu70 wrote: ....how many players are we gonna have to hide?

Hawks just need talented players and tradable assets.

Spoiler:

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jayu70 wrote:

Jamaaliver wrote:

jayu70 wrote: ....how many players are we gonna have to hide?

Hawks just need talented players and tradable assets.

Spoiler:

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Then...uuumm...trade the pick?

Jonathan Givony wrote:Can anyone slow down Dalton Knecht?



If Kentucky is the best show in college basketball, Knecht's scoring exploits at Tennessee has to be a close second. The SEC Player of the Year and likely first-team All-American has gone off for 35-plus points five times this season, and is liable to have a big performance in any tournament game moving forward with the way Tennessee utilizes him in their half-court offense, basically running a play for him every time down the floor when they need a bucket.

Knecht is one of the most dynamic shooters in college basketball, but he's proven to be much more than that bullying opponents in transition and the half court with his strong frame and physical style of play. It will be interesting to see how opponents try to slow him down. NBA teams are starting to wonder just how high Knecht can get picked -- who doesn't need a 6-6 wing who can create his own shot, shoot off movement, gets to the free throw line prolifically, doesn't turn the ball over and looks ready to play a big role from day one? His age (he turns 23 in April) and average defense and passing might work against him to some extent, but some additional fireworks in March could go a long way in solidifying his chances as a top-10 pick.