2024 NBA Mock Draft 4.0: Spurs get 2 game-changers, Wizards land potential star at 1
By Tyler Watts
15. Miami Heat draft Dalton Knecht
Knecht went to Tennessee for his senior season to improve his game and boost his draft stock. It unquestionably worked. The 22-year-old has been one of the best scorers in the country this season. Knecht averages over 21 points per game and is shooting north of 40 percent from 3-point range.
Knecht was unranked coming out of high school and had to go to a junior college for two years. He worked his way into being a top prospect and will continue to improve in the NBA.
How much do teams knock his age and defense? Knecht is 6’6 but is a subpar defender. He went to Tennessee in part because of Rick Barnes and his defensive prowess, but still makes a ton of mistakes on that end of the floor. Knecht will be 23 on draft night, and he could become more Duncan Robinson than Bojan Bogdanovic.
The Miami Heat do not care. They draft skilled players and fit them into their system. Everyone said they reached for Jaime Jaquez in 2023, but he has been outstanding as a rookie in Miami. The Heat know talent, and Dalton Knecht certainly has it. Do not be surprised to see him getting buckets and spacing the floor in Miami in year one.