KFTV’s NBA Draft analyst identifies the most intriguing prospects the Knicks should consider in the 2024 draft.
Draft Profile
Name: Ryan Dunn
School and Year: Virginia, Sophmore (21 Years old)
Height and Weight: 6-7, 212 Lbs
2023-24 Stats: 8.1 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.3 BPG, 1.3 SPG
Awards: ACC All-American
Strength: DEFENSE! DEFENSE! DEFENSE!
Ryan is the best defender in this class and maybe the best defender I’ve seen in years. He possesses great measurables with a 6’7″ height and a 7’2″ wingspan (via NBA Draft Combine). Along with that, his footwork is absolutely beautiful. He can move laterally with any offensive player and rarely gets beat off the dribble (1.3 SPG). His explosiveness (38.5″ max verticle and 32″ standing verticle via NBA Draft Combine) allows him to be a menace defending the paint. He led the ACC in blocks per game (2.3) as a wing. Even when he gets switched onto a big, he always seems to work relentlessly to deny the entry pass and make them work.
Strength: Transition and Finishing at Rim
When Dunn hits the open floor, watch out. With his incredible athleticism and strength, he is sometimes impossible to stop in open space. His relentlessness on defense allows him to get a head start when the ball is loose and wreak havoc on fastbreaks. Dunn is also a beast at getting the bucket and finishing. He usually finishes with authority (36-38 on dunks) and overall finished at the rim at a .680 percent clip. He also showed he can be an elite cutter because he’s such a smart player. He understands with his lack of shooting that he needs to be able to create other ways to get a bucket, and he does this really well. With a good point guard, this can be unlocked even more.
Weaknesses: Shooting and Creation
Okay, so as excited as I get watching Ryan Dunn lock up your favorite ACC hooper, it’s the complete opposite feeling watching Dunn on offense. At one point, I felt like Dunn was a legit top-five talent because I believed the shot would come along, and I simply didn’t see it this year. He shot .200 from 3P even in just 35 attempts, and his shooting mechanics seem to be a bit off. He doesn’t lack confidence as a catch-and-shoot guy, but he seems to rush his shot too many times, leading to some ugly shots. Dunn also shot just .530 from the FT line, which is worrisome if you want to project his shot long-term. He doesn’t possess a mid-range game at the moment. Now, let’s also note that Virginia’s offense was brutal this season. But I didn’t see any in-between game for Dunn this year.
Summary
Ryan Dunn definitely fits the mold of a “Thibs Guy” with his tenacity on defense and relentless motor on both ends. His offense isn’t desirable, and that’s why he’s no longer a lottery lock. But like I mentioned before, Virginia is where your offense goes to die. So, there’s hope that Ryan can fix his shooting mechanics and improve his offensive creation with the proper coaching. Ryan Dunn’s athletic gifts and All-NBA Defense potential give him some of the highest upside in this 2024 class. He’s a player I think would thrive in New York.
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