While many mock drafts have Chicago finding Patrick Williams’s replacement in 19-year-old Cody Williams with their 11th pick, a handful of other media sources see the Bulls selecting one of college basketball’s elite scorers last season. The contrast of the two picks is the most intriguing part of the process. One is a 19-year-old lengthy forward with raw athleticism over polished talent. The other is a 23-year-old pure-scoring guard with a more NBA-ready scoring prowess and can be a defensive liability. Suppose Arturas Karnisovas’s message to start the offseason is truthful: the team’s goal remains in immediate championship contention. In that case, the latter of the two options may be more realistic as a plug-and-play wing that will immediately contribute to winning.
Knecht measured 6′ 5.25″ and weighed 212 pounds at yesterday’s NBA Combine. His wing span came in at 6′ 9″ with a 39.0″ max vertical jump. Last season at the University of Tennesee, he was named the runner-up Naismith Men’s College Player of the Year, the SEC Player of the Year, and the Transfer of the Year in college basketball. He took 201 more shots than the next player on his team and scored 35 or more points four times last season. If the Bulls are truly moving on from Zach LaVine and looking for a scoring replacement, this is their guy.
Unfortunately for Chicago, his showing at yesterday’s NBA Combine was considered one of the best performances of the day and will likely raise his draft stock. Also measuring in taller, longer, and stronger than many of his running mates, Knecht’s draft positioning has only risen since declaring for the NBA Draft. If he falls outside of the top ten, look for Chicago to take the elite scorer, or possibly even manevour their way into the top-ten to bring him to the Bulls.
The runner-up Most Improved Player of the Year in the NBA last season, Coby White is likley taking the reigns of Chicago’s offense moving forward. With LaVine’s departure a foregone conclusion and DeMar DeRozan’s contract expired, White is the only option currently for the Bulls. Knecht’s age and polished basketball IQ makes the most sense for a draftee who can start right away wherever he’s drafted. Drawing comparisons to Max Strus, he could be the perfect catch-and-shoot threat paired with White’s range and distributing abilities.
In the bottom five of league ranks each of the last three seasons in three-point shooting, Chicago could certainly use his deep range capabilites. Likely losing their top three-point threat of the last seven seasons in LaVine, drafting his replacement makes the most sense in transitioning to the next era of Bulls basketball.
Will Dalton Knecht fall outside of the top-ten, or will the Bulls trade up to get thier guy? Would you rather add a three-point sniper with high offensive upside but could be a defensive liability, or draft a 19-year-old athletic phenom who would start as a defensive menace and develop into an offensive weapon? After the initial round of NBA mock drafts, many media sources are in sync that Chicago’s pick is a two-man race.
