He's three or four years older than lots of the other good players in his conference. That makes a difference. Part of it is experience, and being better due to hard work, and part is just being more physically mature. I think that Sharpe and other Blazers will be a lot better when they're 23, and I believe it's likely that the 18, 19, and 20 year-olds in this draft will be, too. edit: changed to "three or four", rather than "four or five" as my arithmetic was off
He has a legitimately transferrable skill in shooting. He's a three level scorer. That usually translates to the NBA.
I agree, but Knecht is a rookie that needs to be drafted by a playoff team. The fact he is being considered in the lottery defeats that. I look at him like I do Grant/Brogdon. They have value on a team competing. Not Portland. Portland needs to swing for a player that is three years younger but has upside as an athletic shooter. That player could be better than what Knecht is now.
I don't know where I actually land on Knecht, other than wanting him, and wanting him to wear #4 for a top tier nickname, but the idea that being 23 years old is the reason we should be passing is ridiculous to me. Most guys hit their peaks at 28ish years old. So he's still 5 year away from that. Somehow a 23 year old is all of a sudden a win now piece not meant for a rebuilding team? Come on.
I think it's a couple things... Firstly, being a 23 year old rookie suggests (again, this is alllll projection) that he probably doesn't have a lot of physical upside to untap. While its true that NBA players usually take until their mid-ish 20s to peak, a lot of that is understanding the nuances of the pro game, finding the right role to fit into, etc. -- I don't think I can think of a single mid-20s guy who somehow had some big jump in physical ability. Even if you don't buy that, EVERYONE should be concerned about him being a 22 year old college player. Unquestionably that played some role in his on-court performance this season, there's no way it didn't. It'll be up to the scouting and player personnel departments to discern how much of a factor it played. Add that all up and I see a guy with seriously limited ceiling and a very concerning floor, who at best, won't be more than a role player anyway.
The two best players the Blazers have drafted in the past 40 years were 4-year collegians. Of course, they were 15 months younger on draft day than Knecht will be, but the "low ceiling" argument was lobbed at them too. Not suggesting that he's anywhere near their tier, but their development and success makes me less inclined to use age against a prospect.
I don't care about him being 23. My issue with him is that his first 4 years of college were very underwhelming. He definitely has the potential to be a 1-hit wonder with his last season at Tennessee
Aren't you sick of players who can't defend? If I knew Knecht could be an above-average NBA defender I'd be fine with him. Although I'm not sure I want him taking shots away from Shae. Knecht strikes me as a great player for an expansion team to take. He can be the #1 option on a shitty team, but can he be a vital part of a contender?
Don't believe I said I was in favor of drafting Knecht-- simply that his age isn't really a good reason not to. His defense may well be.
I don't think it will. He doesn't have size or quickness to get his shots off well on his own and his perimeter shooting isn't that great... 39.7% was 39th in the nation in percentage and 117th in three pointers made and his previous years (38.1%, 36.1%) were even less impressive. Compare that to Reed Sheppard: 52.1% from three and 53.6% overall FG%? That is impressive. That is shotting that I am confident will translate to the NBA. Knecht is an older (Morrison wasn't quite 22 at draft time, and Knecht is already 23), smaller, less proven Adam Morrison as I see him. Maybe Morrison would have turned out OK without his early ACL tear, but I doubt it).
They were over a year younger, but it's evidence age doesn't matter? What if he were 10 years older? 20? Where is the limit of age not mattering, and why is 15 months older than your examples of older players who've succeeded insignificant? The reality is that relying on age as a factor is smart, just like relying on height and speed and lots of other things.
Why do you not like him -- I think he has the highest floor even if he is not as good of the players that MIGHT be available and he fits what this team needs -- shooting to take pressure off of Scoot
Reed is 6'1.75 barefoot. That is super small by current NBA standards. Knecht is just under 4 inches taller with a 6'9 wingspawn. He also can play off the ball, running off screens or spotting up.
There are a multitude of reasons I personally don't buy into Knecht as a prospect, many of which Ed O has already elucidated upon: he is an older prospect, limiting his potential for growth; this same age provided him with an advantage against the younger players he faced in NCAA ball and he still wasn't some kind of world-beater; I question whether his one good season was true growth or just being years more experienced; and I can't help but see Pat Connaughton as his most likely player comp. I have been wrong most of my life. I personally would not draft the guy in the top ten, however.
Not sure where to put this as there are a bajillion threads, but my spidey senses are tingling and I like Holland at 7. Anyone agree? I think we gotta take one of Salaun, Williams or Holland. I don't see Williams still being there, and I prefer Holland over Salaun by a hair, but would be thrilled with either one. Quick summation of the board consensus in terms of what majority wants, and vocal minorities so I don't have to read 100+ pages? Thanks in advance!
Interesting mock from someone that goes deep each year https://theswishtheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Big-Board_1-20-1.pdf
But Reed is a PG and Knecht is a small forward. Reed has good size for a PG while Knect is on the small size for a small forward (and on the slow side for a shooting guard, but that's another post).
