We haven’t seen a player like Dennis Smith, Jr. in quite a while. I predict he’ll thrive as a pro.
As the NBA Draft nears, most of the attention is on whether the Lakers will draft Lonzo Ball and if Markelle Fultz will be drafted #1.
But let me point out that there’s another player to crow about in this year’s draft.
Dennis Smith, Jr. is a once-every-so-often talent with old school grit.
I first saw Smith Jr. on highlight tapes at Hoop Mixtape. He made flashy dunks. He crossed over opponents, blowing by them as if they were standing still. And he hit spot-up jumpers from essentially “No Man’s Land.”
But I was most impressed with his unselfishness. He hit the open man via bounce passes, alley-oops, and no-look passes. Smith Jr. plays a team game.
College Career
At NC State Smith Jr. was leader, facilitator, scorer, and an unyielding competitor. In his one year in Raleigh he scored 18.1 pts. per game, averaged 6.2 assists per game, and shot 45.5% from the field.
Smith Jr. stole lazy entry passes, bore down on defense, went for loose balls, and directed his teammates on offense–such was his versatility and skill-level.
And he lived up to his hype, too. On the pre-season Wooden Award Watch team, Smith Jr. was also on the pre-season list for ACC Rookie of the Year. He ended up being named just that.
Courtesy: SLAMonline.com
Smith Jr. tore his ACL just before his senior season at NC State.
How did he respond? Smith Jr. enrolled early, rehabbed relentlessly, did study film, and stayed engaged mentally. He was back on the court just two months after having surgery.
Was that the safest thing to do? Probably not. But he’s a competitor of the type that only comes around every so often. He pushed himself to get ready for the season.
Overcoming adversity is a key element that NBA scouts look for in a prospect.
NBA-Ready
It’s evident to anybody who watched him play in college that Smith Jr. is ready for the pros. He has athleticism, determination, and a high basketball IQ.
It wasn’t a surprise, then, when Smith Jr. made his announcement to take his talents to the next level. The big question is this: Where will he go?
Possible NBA Landing Spots
I believe Smith Jr. is a first-round talent who could be one of the top 15 players taken in the draft. He’ll be especially valuable to a team that needs help at point guard. Those teams include Orlando, Sacramento, New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Denver, Indiana, and Brooklyn.
Courtesy: NC AA.com
My take is that the Pelicans, Pacers, Nets, and Nuggets may be in the driver’s seat if Smith Jr. slips past the Kings at pick #10, But I also don’t see him slipping that far. Sacramento also has the #5 pick.
ORLANDO: Earlier this month Smith Jr. worked out for the Magic. I think Orlando would be a great fit for him.
PHILADELPHIA: The 76ers are another good option, depending on how Coach Brett Brown intends to use Ben Simmons. Simmons is listed as a power forward, but he can play anywhere from 1-4. There’s some talk of using him as a Magic Johnson-type player, that is, as a big point guard who’s capable of distributing the ball, creating mismatches, and guarding players at multiple positions.
NEW YORK: The Knicks would openly welcome Smith Jr. because he has the grit, hustle, and tenacity of Knicks-great, John Starks. But the level of interest in NY will be contingent on what the team plans for Derek Rose.
SACRAMENTO: The Kings could be a choice, too. Sacramento has Darren Collison, Ty Lawson, and Langston Galloway on the roster as point guards. Will they stay with a veteran point guard or look to the draft to replace Demarcus “Boogie” Cousins?
NEW ORLEANS: Then there’s New Orleans. The Pelicans need to have a conductor for its somewhat out-of-tune orchestra. Smith Jr. could be that player. I think Smith Jr. would fit well into that offense without the need for him to carry the team offensively.
INDIANA: Indiana may be a landing spot for Smith Jr. — if he slips in the draft. With Jeff Teague and Aaron Brooks on the roster, and Paul George looking at other destinations, the Pacers have decisions to make. If the Pacers were to pick Smith Jr. without George on the roster, then the team will still need to do some maneuvering to get a big-time scorer.
Courtesy: NBADraft.com
DENVER: In Denver things come down to whether the Nuggets are sold on Emmanuel Mudiay. He was drafted to be the future floor general, but hasn’t quite developed into that role. But Mudiay shows flashes of promise and that may be a consideration as Denver considers making a play for Smith Jr. in this year’s draft.
BROOKLYN: Brooklyn needs players. Period! However I don’t see Smith Jr. going at #22 unless there’s a trade in the works.
MILWAUKEE: The Bucks could look at Smith Jr. but, at #17, they’d likely need to trade up or hope that he slips past teams with point guard needs. Even with either scenario, though, Milwaukee just drafted Malcom Brogdon, a player who shows promise at point guard. It’s likely that the Bucks will give Brogdon a chance to develop.
In The Final Analysis
The team that gets Smith Jr. will be getting a player with heart and tenacity. I’ll go so far as to say that I believe he’s a player unlike any we’ve seen in quite a while. Saying that takes nothing away from Fultz, Ball, or any other prospect in this year’s draft.
I predict Dennis Smith Jr. will thrive as a pro.
I agree, Dennis Smith Jr. will make someone a solid point guard. I think that he is probably the most explosive of the guards in the draft outside of De’arron Fox. In my opinion Lonzo Ball is the best facilitator of the group and is more apt to fit into a system where he can run an offense rather than be the lead scorer or the focal point. Smith’s athleticism is off the charts I think he has over a 40 inch vert and he has wheels like John Wall.
Dennis Smith Jr. To Dallas. Though the author didn’t project smith Jr. To go to Dallas as one of his landing spots, he went early at #9. He was right in his analysis and Dallas saw him as a top tier talent. He should make an immediate impact with his skill set.