Trade Rumor: The Tennessee Senior Dalton Knecht And 5 other Super Stars Are On Target For Off-season…

The Utah Jazz head into the 2024 NBA Draft with two first-round picks — No. 10 and No. 29 — and one second-round pick — No. 32. That doesn’t mean the Jazz are going to make all three selections.

By the time the Jazz are on the clock on draft night, they will have exhausted all options when it comes to dealing away picks, packaging them in a larger deal, trading to move up or down in the draft or even a mixture of all of the above.

But in the event a deal doesn’t materialize that the Jazz feel compelled to sign off on, the first choice they’ll have to make it who to draft with the 10th overall pick.

With the combined knowledge of what the Jazz like, who they’ve had in for workouts, what the team needs and the time I’ve spent learning about the different prospects, here are five players I think the Jazz should target with the No. 10 pick.

Cody Williams | Colorado | freshman | 6′6.5″
I think there is a really good chance Cody Williams is already off the board by the time the Jazz are set to make the No. 10 pick, but if he is still on the board, he is exactly the type of player the Jazz should take.

He’s smart with the ball in his hands, he knows how to attack a closeout and make defense pay with quick decisions, he can operate as a secondary playmaker and knows how to run a pick-and-roll while also being a great finisher around the rim.

While a lot of people are concerned about his shot and that he didn’t shoot the ball at volume in his one season at Colorado, there’s plenty of reason to believe a good foundation will lead to even more results at the next level.

Williams shot 41.5% from 3-point range, albeit at just 1.7 attempts per game, but that shows that he hasn’t needed to get a lot of shots up to be efficient.

Additionally, what those in the know have seen from Williams throughout the years (high school and college) leads them to believe that his shot is going to continue to come along and he’ll be fine from that department once his role changes in the NBA and puts him on the perimeter a little more. He has good mechanics and form.

Defensively he needs to be stronger, but his size and length (7′1″ wingspan) give him a great base to work with to be a versatile and switchy defender in the NBA.

He is really smart and has good instincts, which is what makes him the ideal two-way prospect who could be valued across the league.

It does seem that there are moments when effort is a little questionable from Williams. That can often be a byproduct of the college game where there is a bit more stagnation through long possessions. At the NBA level, he’ll need to prove himself by staying active and be willing to do dirty work consistently.

Dalton Knecht | Tennessee | senior | 6′5.25″
I completely reject the idea that a senior in college is “old,” even when being compared to some of the one-and-done prospects. More often than not, players continue developing their game and are completely different by 25 than they were when they were drafted, no matter how old they were.

Lauri Markkanen was a great player at a young age when he was drafted and an even better and completely different player by 25.

If anything, the more seasoned college players are usually more ready for the NBA than the underclassmen that transition to the pros, so there’s no reason to believe that 23 year-old Dalton Knecht can’t continue to improve and contribute in a positive way for an NBA team.

Also, Knecht was not someone who garnered a lot of attention out of high school, and he had to work his way into a Division I rotation by grinding out at junior college before moving on to Northern Colorado and later transferring to Tennessee.

Knecht improved his skillset and production every step of the way and made necessary tweaks to his game every year. He has proven the ability to adapt while growing.

His greatest strength is his offense, where he is smart, savvy, knows when to get off the ball and knows when his shot is there, even in tight windows.

He shot 39.7% from 3 on 6.5 attempts per game at Tennessee and did so in a variety of ways (catch-and-shoot, off the dribble, step-back), but he’s also good operating in space and using his athleticism against a defense. He’s a pure scorer who can probably contribute right away.

Defensively, he has not proven himself and he was often targeted in college. I’ve heard from a number of scouts and executives that they believe Knecht can show improvement in that area, which he will absolutely need to do if he’s going to stay on the floor in the NBA.

Jared McCain | Duke | freshman | 6′2″
I know the Jazz don’t necessarily need guards right now, but you have to remember that the roster they have today is not the roster that they will have when it’s time to make a playoff run.