NBA Mock Draft: Magic Selects Top SEC Forward Dalton Knecht
The Orlando Magic has a star-studded young cast. Paolo Banchero is an All-Star, and Franz Wagner is not far behind. Jonathan Isaac is one of the best defenders in the league, and Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony are solid distributors who can knock down shots and improve everyone around them.
As is, the Magic are poised to be one of the Eastern Conference's best teams for years to come, as long as they develop the talent already in Orlando. However, despite the success, the Magic is one of the worst shooting teams in the league.
Tennessee guard Dalton Knecht (3) is seen on the court during an NCAA game against Vanderbilt at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
© Hannah Mattix/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Magic is 27th in the league in attempts from three, is 29th in percentage, and is dead last in makes. Despite the promise in Orlando, this glaring issue needs to be resolved before the Magic's offense is ready for a playoff push. Instead of trading for talent or signing free agents, the Magic can solve this issue in the draft.
ESPN draft experts Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo have the Magic selecting Tennessee forward Dalton Knecht with the No. 18 overall pick. Knecht is a fifth-year college player, with stops at Northeastern (Colorado) and Nothern Colorado universities. He plays for the Volunteers, averaging 20.1 points on 39.6 percent shooting from deep.
Tennessee is currently ranked eighth in the nation, so Knecht took his small-town success to the big stage of the SEC. Knecht is not a star-caliber player. The league values "three-and-D" players and Knecht is not great on defense.
He can, however, create for himself, cut to get open, explode to the rim, and shoot with the best of them. At 6-6 and 22 years old, he is the rare mid-first-round selection who would immediately be ready for the NBA.
At this point, Orlando is not a rebuilding team. The Magic is on the rise and has a core foundation built, and needs to add talent in certain areas. Shooting is a problem in Orlando, and adding instant, NBA-ready talent could quickly fix that issue.
