The Portland Trail Blazers are getting an up-close look at Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht this week at their home site.
With the NBA Draft coming up later this month, the Trail Blazers hosted the Tennessee product for a solo workout in front of coaches and scouts on Thursday. Knecht turned heads during an impressive workout during the NBA Combine last month, solidifying his position as a lottery draft pick and one of the top prospects to come from the college side out of this year’s prospects.
Portland also had Knecht meet with the media on-site for a few moments after his workout, where he spoke highly of getting the chance to be around the team. The Trail Blazers are led by head coach Chauncey Billups, who is a Denver native and played his college ball at the University of Colorado Boulder. Knecht, a native of Thornton, CO, played his college ball at Northern Colorado before making the move over to Tennessee.
“It was good,” Knecht said about his pre-draft workout. “I think I did good. It’s always good seeing coach [Chauncey] Billups, he’s from Denver. It was cool just to be here and see the facility. This is my second workout so it was fun.”
Portland’s social media account posted a video from Knecht’s workout.
Pre-draft work 🎥 pic.twitter.com/50mvrOcDm7
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 6, 2024
More from RTI: Grizzlies Continue to Be Popular Pick for Vols’ Dalton Knecht
In his lone season at Tennessee, the former Northern Colorado transfer averaged 21.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while leading the Vols to an SEC regular season championship as the SEC Player of the Year.
The Blazers own the 7th and 14th picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, which pretty much bookends the expected range when Knecht is projected to fall.
If the Blazers were to select Knecht at No. 7, it would be one of the higher projections that Knecht has but is justified with his maturity and all-around scoring ability. While the Spurs have also been reportedly interested in Knecht’s services at No. 8, the Memphis Grizzlies have been a hot projection for the former Vol with the No. 9 pick. It feels unlikely that Knecht would last until Portland’s second pick at No. 14 if they don’t take him at No. 7.
The 2024 NBA Draft will take place from June 26-27 in New York.
To see Knecht’s full post-workout press conference, click here.
Pre-draft with Dalton Knecht. pic.twitter.com/DcpriwDrHx
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) June 6, 2024
