“Situational Evaluation” is a collection of articles that seeks to look at the circumstances that the majority usually affect an NBA prospect’s success. Every participant shall be scored on a scale from 1-10 in 4 completely different classes: NBA-specific talent(s), deadly flaw(s), collegiate/abroad/pre-NBA setting, and ideally suited NBA ecosystem.
Dalton Knecht is a 23-year-old wing from Fargo, North Dakota, who averaged 21.7 factors, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists for the Tennessee Volunteers. He’s anticipated to be chosen within the lottery. NBADraft.internet at present has him projected at No. 10.
NBA-Particular Expertise
Whereas most of this yr’s lottery prospects convey theoretical upside to the desk, Dalton Knecht brings productiveness.
Tennessee requested Knecht to do every thing final season, and he delivered practically 22 factors a sport on sturdy effectivity. As his tasks elevated, so did his stage of play. He drilled practically 40% of his 3-point makes an attempt final season on 6.5 makes an attempt a sport, lots of them off the bounce or on the transfer.
He wasn’t only a one-dimensional long-range bomber, both. Knecht tenaciously attacked closeouts and confirmed the flexibility to complete in site visitors with both hand. If he’s taking part in with a ball-dominant playmaker, Knecht can get buckets off cuts and even the occasional lob end. There may be even a stunning bully-ball sport at his disposal if a group tries to cover a smaller defender.
He’s a stout 6-6, 215 with terrific bounce (39-inch max vert) and size (8-7.5 standing attain) – terrific two-guard measurables on the subsequent stage.
Knecht isn’t a tunnel-vision gunner. Though Tennessee required him to shoulder a heavy scoring load, Knecht is a prepared passer with good court docket imaginative and prescient and contact on his passes.
Whereas most of his lottery brethren require some inventive pondering and projecting, Knecht takes the guesswork out it. He’s a rock-solid taking pictures guard with shades of Michael Redd (optimistic) and Corey Kispert (practical) to his sport.
On a scale from 1-10, Knecht’s productiveness is a 9.
Deadly Flaws
Dalton Knecht was born on April 19, 2001. Listed below are some present NBA gamers born in 2001: Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley. 2002: Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Alperen Sengun, Brandon Miller.
You get the thought.
Knecht shall be 23 years outdated the day he first places on an NBA jersey. What you see proper now’s probably what you’ll be getting for almost all of his rookie contract. The chance is decrease, however so is the potential development curve.
Knecht has additionally proven some struggles when defended by NBA-level size and athleticism. He has solely performed one yr of SEC-level basketball, and whereas he was extraordinary in lots of these video games, his worst outings got here in opposition to Mississippi State (3-6, 8 factors in a blowout loss), NC State (1-7, 2 factors in 19 minutes), and Kansas (4-17 taking pictures in a 9-point loss). Athletes with equal size/bounce can pressure Knecht off his spots. It’s truthful to level out that he additionally had a number of monster video games in opposition to prime opponents, as properly – a number of 30+-point outbursts in opposition to prime SEC defenses, the 37 he posted in a tricky loss to Purdue within the tourney – however it’s one thing scouts and entrance places of work are monitoring.
Defensively, Knecht should show he can maintain up in opposition to NBA expertise. He’s a bodily, hard-nosed rebounder, however his largest adjustment from faculty to the professionals shall be navigating screens and staying in entrance of the NBA’s predatory wing scorers. If he can’t, his offensive skillset may not be sufficient to save lots of him.
On a scale from 1 (not a priority) to 10 (severe hindrance), Knecht’s defensive limitations charge at a 9.
Pre-NBA Setting
Knecht’s rise to potential lottery standing is about as unlikely as anybody’s on this draft. From a sub-6-foot excessive schooler in suburban Denver to a junior faculty star to a mid-major to the SEC, Knecht proves that NBA expertise can come from wherever, offered you benefit from an unlimited development spurt alongside the way in which.
Knecht reworked himself from a jitterbug level guard with deep taking pictures vary right into a rock-solid wing with hops during the last 5-6 years, all whereas sustaining his guard expertise.
Final season, Knecht crammed his trophy case with each conceivable award – SEC Participant of the Yr, First Workforce All-American, convention Newcomer of the Yr, the Julius Erving Award (nation’s finest small ahead), and a terrific exhibiting within the NCAA Match earlier than the Volunteers bowed out to Purdue within the Elite Eight.
On a scale from 1-10, Knecht’s lengthy and winding pre-NBA profession charges at an 8.5.
Preferrred NBA Ecosystem
Given his age and his NBA-ready sport, Knecht offers considerably extra worth to a group that has its sights set on competing instantly. Cross off the Pistons, the Path Blazers, the Wizards, and the Hornets.
Despite the fact that the Spurs received solely 22 video games final yr, I’m of the opinion that they’re able to compete a lot before a typical 22-win group, given what we anticipate to see from Victor Wembanyama. If the popular playmakers are off the board at this level, Knecht at 8 makes a variety of sense.
The likeliest match is Utah at No. 10. The Jazz received 31 video games and will sneak their means into the play-in dialog behind Lauri Markkanen. Knecht would come into the league 2.5 years older than their different rising wing star, Keyonte George – I like how their video games complement each other.
Elsewhere within the lottery, Knecht is strictly the type of participant Sam Presti tends to focus on – a shoot/move/dribble standout with a knack for making large performs. Don’t anticipate to see Knecht fall beneath Oklahoma Metropolis at No. 12.
On a scale from 1-10, Knecht’s situational independence is an 8.5. He comes into the league able to play from day one – he simply wants a group that able to compete.
