NBA Draft: Los Angeles Lakers add Dalton Knecht, Sacramento Kings grab Devin Carter

NBA's Pacific Division wasn't destination for 18-year-old phenoms during draft's first round on Wednesday night.

Inste, se teams sought grown men who could hopefully help right away.

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

Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors didn't have a selection in Wednesday's first round.

Kings used No. 13 selection to select Providence's Devin Carter, a 22-year-old who averaged nearly 20 points per game during his final college season. 6-foot-2 guard is considered a good defender, too, and could mesh well with team's or guards, including De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk.

Lakers went for scoring with No. 17 pick, ding Tennessee's 23-year-old Dalton Knecht. 6-foot-5 guard was one of college game's elite scorers last season, averaging nearly 22 points per game.

Suns did some manuvering on Wednesday night, tring No. 22 selection to Nuggets for No. 28 pick, No. 56 pick and two more future second-round selections. Phoenix took Virginia wing Ryan Dunn at No. 28, giving team a defensive standout to play with team's star trio of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Brley Beal.

Phoenix was subject of rampant tre rumors prior to first round — particularly regarding Durant. chatter grew so loud that second-year owner Mat Ishbia felt need to squash that speculation on social media on Wednesday.

“Phoenix loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves Phoenix, and we are competing for a championship this year because we have team to do it," he said.

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

Who did team draft: No one in first round.

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

Who did team draft: No one in first round. Clippers didn't have a first-round pick because y tred it to Oklahoma City Thunder along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in exchange for George in 2019. It’s one of several picks y dealt for George to pair him with Kawhi Leonard in hopes of winning franchise’s first NBA championship. That hasn’t happened.

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

Who did team draft: Knecht. SEC Player of Year is a prolific scorer who grew into stardom during a winding journey that began with no Division I scholarship offers and ended with three increasingly impressive seasons with Norrn Coloro and n Tennessee.

Whose game does first-round draft pick most compare 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.

Team need(s): Suns could use a point guard after struggling with turnovers last season, particularly in fourth quarter. y also could use perimeter defense and a backup big man.

Who did team draft: After moving down six spots in tre with Denver, Suns took Dunn at No. 28. 21-year-old is considered maybe best defensive player in draft, which is something Suns needed.

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

Team need(s): Kings answered ir biggest looming question ahe of draft by resigning Monk to a four-year contract. Sacramento could use more size and athleticism and help on wing to complement Harrison Barnes, who turned 32 in May. Keegan Murray and Trey Lyles — ir or wings — are more spot-up shooters.

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

Whose game does first-round draft pick most compare to and why: Carter’s prowess on both ends of floor could fit mold of Boston Celtics’ Jrue Holiday, one of premier two-way players in NBA. Carter is versatile, contributes in nearly every facet of game and could improve offensively if his college numbers project to pro level.