Knicks Rumors: Dennis Smith Jr. Would Love To Play With Carmelo Anthony
The New York Knicks recently met with 2017 NBA Draft prospect Dennis Smith Jr.. His trainer explained that Smith wants to play with Carmelo Anthony.
The New York Knicks were meant to host 2017 NBA Draft prospect Dennis Smith Jr. on Wednesday, June 7. It was an exciting opportunity for New York to scout one of the most heralded players in this draft class.
Whether unfortunately or by design, however, Smith never worked out for the Knicks—and the few details that have been revealed are quite intriguing.
Smith is generally regarded as a prospect who will be available when the Knicks come up at No. 8 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. He’s an exceptional slasher with elite athleticism and the uncanny ability to finish in traffic.
According to Adam Zagoria of FanRagSports.com, Smith met with Phil Jackson while he was in New York on Monday evening.
"Former N.C. State point guard Dennis Smith Jr. had dinner with Knicks president Phil Jackson on Monday night…"
Smith’s long-time trainer, Shawn Farmer, told Zagoria that Smith would love to have an opportunity to play with Carmelo Anthony.
"“Oh my God, he would love the chance to play with a guy like a Melo,” Smith Jr.’s longtime trainer, Shawn Farmer, told FanRagSports.com. “Those guys are proven, USA (Basketball), Olympic players, I think he would mesh well. And Junior wants to learn now, too. He doesn’t just want to go in and think he knows everything. He wants to get up under those guys’ wing and learn from those guys.”"
Smith is the player whom Daily Knicks has consistently pegged as the best option for the organization at No. 8 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft.
It’s worth noting that Smith didn’t attend his reportedly scheduled workout with the Knicks. There’s no guaranteeing New York will select Smith, but this is eerily similar to what transpired when Kristaps Porzingis was, “Injured,” during his pre-draft workout with the Knicks.
That tactic worked well enough for Porzingis to fall to New York at No. 4 overall, and while this may not do the same with Smith, it may confirm interest.
Another possibility, of course, is that the Knicks determined that Smith isn’t the option at No. 8 and thus didn’t work him out.
Regardless of which seems more plausible, the Knicks will have a decision to make with Smith at the 2017 NBA Draft. If he’s still on the board, it’s plausible that he’d be the best player available when it’s New York’s opportunity to pick.
With a glaring need for a playmaker, whether at the point guard position or otherwise, Smith could be the most rational option.
Must Read: Full 2017 NBA Mock Draft with upside comparisons
If the New York Knicks plan to select Dennis Smith Jr. in the 2017 NBA Draft, the tactics are as unorthodox as one should have expected from Phil Jackson.