ESPN recently released their first mock draft after the NBA Lottery, and with the No. 8 pick they had the San Antonio Spurs continue to add talent.
After hitting the jackpot with Victor Wembanyama in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Spurs are looking to build around him. With two picks in the Top 10, the Spurs are in a very good position to build a solid young core for years to come.
In the mock draft, ESPN had the Spurs take Rob Dillingham with the fourth overall pick. However, with the No. 8 pick, the Spurs can add another talented player. With the 8th pick, ESPN had the Spurs take Dalton Knecht from Tennessee. Here’s what they had to say about the pick.
After addressing their point guard situation with the No. 4 pick, it might make sense for the Spurs to look at adding shooting to their roster to give Victor Wembanyama ample spacing to maximize his offensive gifts. The Spurs surely have eyes on being competitive sooner rather than later with Wembanyama about to become an MVP candidate in the near future, so picking a 23-year-old plug-and-play shooter/scorer such as Knecht looks like an attractive option. His defensive shortcomings can be mitigated to an extent playing behind a future Defensive Player of the Year like Wembanyama. – Givony
Like Dillingham, Knecht isn’t known for his abilities on the defensive end of the court coming out of college. However, he was one of the best scorers and players in the SEC and was the best player on a very good Tennessee team.
Last season, Knecht averaged 21.4 points per game, while shooting 45.8 percent from the field and just a touch under 40 percent from beyond the arc. With an ability to score in multiple ways in college, Knecht should be able to have his game translate into the NBA.
For the San Antonio Spurs to have two Top-10 picks, they have to make sure they maximize the opportunity to surround Wembanyama with good players. Adding two of the best players from the SEC last year should help with that.
Do you want the latest news, updates, and rumors surrounding all sports? Click here. Make sure to check out our sister sites as well: NFL Analysis Network, NBA Analysis Network, Packers Coverage.
