Lakers add Dalton Knecht, Kings grab Devin Carter as NBA’s Pacific Division focuses on veteran players – Basketball

PHOENIX (AP) — The NBA’s Pacific Division wasn’t the destination for 18-year-old phenoms in the first round of the draft Wednesday night.

Instead, these teams looked for grown men who could hopefully help right away.

The Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns picked in the mid to late first round and were on the hunt for veteran college players who could be rotation players during a potentially deep playoff run next spring.

The Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors did not have a selection in the first round on Wednesday.

The Kings used the No. 13 pick to select Providence’s Devin Carter, a 22-year-old who averaged nearly 20 points per game during his final college season. The 6-foot-1 guard is also considered a good defender and could fit in well with the team’s other guards, including De’Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk.

The Lakers went for scoring with No. 17, adding Tennessee’s 23-year-old Dalton Knecht. The 6-foot-1 guard was one of the college game’s top scorers last season, averaging nearly 22 points per game.

The Suns made some maneuvers on Wednesday night, trading the No. 22 pick to the Nuggets for the No. 28 pick, No. 56 pick and two more future second-round selections. Phoenix took Virginia’s Ryan Dunn at No. 28, giving the team a defensive highlight playing with the team’s star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

Phoenix was the subject of rampant trade rumors ahead of the first round – especially regarding Durant. The chatter got so loud that second-year owner Mat Ishbia felt the need to quell that speculation on social media on Wednesday.

“Phoenix loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves Phoenix, and we’re competing for the championship this year because we have the team to do it,” he said.

Warriors of the Golden State

Team need(s): The Warriors have the No. 52 selection in the second round on Thursday. In his second role as general manager, Mike Dunleavy hopes to find an impact player like Trayce Jackson-Davis, who was the No. 57 pick last season. During his rookie year, he turned into a key cog off the bench, averaging 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds.

Who did the team drafting: Nobody in the first round.

Los Angeles Clippers

Team need(s): The Clippers are a team that could be on the move, with stars Paul George and James Harden set to hit free agency. Any kind of infusion of young talent would be nice for an older roster, but their only pick is at No. 46 in the second round.

Who did the team drafting: Nobody in the first round. The Clippers did not have a first-round pick as they traded him along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for George in 2019. It is one of several picks they dealt to George to pair him with Kawhi Leonard in hopes of winning the franchise’s first NBA championship. That didn’t happen.

Los Angeles Lakers

Team need(s): A player who can contribute now as the Lakers try to make the most of their remaining partnership between LeBron James and Anthony Davis, especially after apparently whiffing slow-developing guard Jalen Hood-Schifino last year. LA could use perimeter scoring and spot-up shooting, and it could also use more size to help Davis.

Who did the team setup: Knecht. The SEC Player of the Year is a prolific scorer who rose to stardom during a winding journey that began with no Division I scholarship offers and ended with three increasingly impressive seasons at Northern Colorado and then Tennessee.

Whose game the first-round draft pick is most comparable to and why: Knecht was a near-consensus projected lottery pick whose outside shooting and overall style inspired parallels to everyone from Klay Thompson and Tim Hardaway Jr. to Jerami Grant and Terrence Ross.

Phoenix suns

Team need(s): The Suns could use a point guard after struggling with turnovers last season, especially in the fourth quarter. They can also use perimeter defense and a big backup guy.

Who made the team draft: After moving down six spots in the trade with Denver, the Suns took Dunn at No. 28. The 21-year-old is considered perhaps the best defensive player in the draft, something the Suns needed.

Whose play is the first-round draft pick most comparable to and why: Dunn could be a player in the mold of New Orleans wing Herb Jones, who was an All-American last season in his third year in the league. Defensive team. Jones was the No. 35 selection in the 2021 draft.

Sacramento Kings

Team need(s): The Kings answered their biggest looming question prior to the draft by signing Monk to a four-year contract. Sacramento could use more size, athleticism and help on the wing to complement Harrison Barnes, who turned 32 in May. Keegan Murray and Trey Lyles – their other wings – are more spot-up shooters.

Who drafted the team: Carter should help alleviate some of their concerns. He averaged nearly 20 points per game last year and was heralded as one of the top two-way players in the draft. He is an elite rebounder for his size, grabbing 8.7 boards per game as a smaller guard. He also improved from beyond the arc in each of his three collegiate seasons, shooting 37.7% from distance last year.

Whose play the first-round draft pick is most comparable to and why: Carter’s prowess on both ends of the floor could fit the mold of Boston Celtics’ Jrue Holiday, one of the best two-way players in the NBA. Carter is versatile, contributing in almost every facet of the game and could improve offensively if his college numbers reach the professional level.

___

AP Sports Writers Beth Harris, Janie McCauley, Greg Beacham and freelancer Eric He contributed to this report.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba