In this 2017 NBA Mock Draft, Daily Knicks provides upside comparisons for every Round 1 prospect. Who do the New York Knicks..."/> In this 2017 NBA Mock Draft, Daily Knicks provides upside comparisons for every Round 1 prospect. Who do the New York Knicks..."/>
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2017 NBA Mock Draft: New York Knicks And A Full Round 1

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 14, 2017; Stanford, CA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) moves the ball against the Stanford Cardinal in the second half at Maples Pavilion. Stanford won 76-69. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2017; Stanford, CA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) moves the ball against the Stanford Cardinal in the second half at Maples Pavilion. Stanford won 76-69. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 17, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Pitt Panthers at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Pitt Panthers at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Dallas Mavericks: Dennis Smith Jr., North Carolina State Wolfpack

Position: Point Guard
Age: 19 (11/25/1997)
Height, Weight, Wingspan: 6’3″, 195 pounds, 6’3″
2016-17 Slash Line: .455/.359/.715
2016-17 SeasonAverages: 34.8 MPG, 18.1 PPG, 6.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.9 SPG, 1.7 3PM

Assuming free agency goes as planned, the Dallas Mavericks will have found the starting small forward and center of the future in Harrison Barnes and Nerlens Noel. It’s also found promising young guards in Seth Curry and Yogi Ferrell, and a two-way shooting guard in Wesley Matthews.

For a team like Dallas, however, the only rational approach would be to select the best player available—a truth that enables Mark Cuban to finally find his franchise point guard.

It would be easy to simply take the European point guard because of Dirk Nowitzki, but Smith Jr. makes more sense here. He’s an elite dribble-penetrator who finished with volume and efficiency during the 2016-17 season.

It was against collegiate competition, but Smith did so on a team that lacked the ideal spacing due to the absence of sharpshooting wings.

In Dallas, Smith would join forces with shooters such as Curry, Barnes, Matthews, and Dirk Nowitzki. The spacing they’d afford him would enable Smith to potentially create penetration at virtual will and thus address Dallas’ primary void.

Smith is a special type of competitor who can drive, facilitate, convert from midrange, and space the floor from distance. He may not be much of a defender, but he has superstar potential.

If not Jonathan Isaac, then the New York Knicks would go with Dennis Smith Jr.

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