Trail Blazers 2024 NBA Draft Big Board: Lottery rankings for Rip City
By Reese Kunz
Tier 4: Immediate impact prospects
No. 10: Devin Carter, Providence
Devin Carter is an intriguing two-way guard who had a breakout junior season at Providence, increasing his scoring from 13 points per game to 19.7 and his three-point efficiency from 29.9 percent to 37.7. If Carter can maintain his improved shooting at the next level, he should be a steal in the draft. He has all the other intangibles you look for in a prospect.
However, given his position and age at 22, Carter doesn’t seem to make sense for the Blazers at No. 7. They need to target someone with high upside, fits a positional need, or a combination of the two.
Carter is a solid pick but likely won’t be a Trail Blazer on draft day and is expected to go somewhere between their two lottery picks. However, if he does happen to fall to the Blazers at No. 14, he’s someone they should strongly consider. Carter would elevate their overall level of play immediately.
No. 9: Dalton Knecht, Tennessee
Dalton Knecht, 23, still has more room to grow than his age indicates. He’s already an elite shooter; at the very least, Knecht will be a spot-up shooting role player, which gives him one of the highest floors in the class. He also has solid positional size at 6-foot-6, great athleticism, and could progress into becoming more of a playmaker at the next level. Per Sean Highkin, the Blazers are "most seriously interested in" four players with the No. 7 pick: Donovan Clingan, Dalton Knecht, Cody Williams, and Tidjane Salaun.
It’s understandable if the Blazers take him because of his high floor and fit alongside Henderson and Sharpe as a floor spacer. But he shouldn't be their first choice, given his lack of defensive upside and how far they are from contending.