New York Knicks: Outlook for every player in Kristaps Porzingis trade

Dennis Smith Jr.

The prized player of this package, Smith was once passed up by the New York Knicks in the 2017 NBA Draft, for Ntilikina. That happened via the old regime. But, fewer than two years later, both point guards from that class now play on the same team.

Smith flashed promise in his rookie season, averaging 15.2 points and 5.2 assists per game on a bad Mavericks team. It came on 14.8 shots, in 29.8 minutes, on 39.5 minutes, an inefficient combination. Couple that with poor defense, and there were red flags.

2018-19 marked some improvement, including 44.0 shooting and 34.4 on three-pointers. However, it was marred by a frayed relationship with head coach Rick Carlisle, resulting in a brief exile.

The North Carolina State product lost opportunities with the rising Doncic around, diminishing his role and warranting this eventual break-up. In New York, at least through 2018-19, he’ll have every chance to succeed.

Is Smith the new starting point guard? That’s a question for Fizdale to answer. Mudiay is still out with a strained shoulder. Ntilikina, too. Burke is gone, so there’s a gaping hole in the starting lineup. It makes this the 21-year-old’s job to lose, and he can take rookie season-volume shots with a thin pecking order of scorers.

The Knicks have 32 games to evaluate Smith before the offseason. Will it determine if he’s their point guard of the future?