Daily Knicks
Fansided

NY Knicks: Projecting the roster with Chris Paul and Fred VanVleet

By Jeffrey Bellone

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers is guarded by Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors during a preseason game at Staples Center on October 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Chris Paul #3 of the Los Angeles Clippers is guarded by Fred VanVleet #23 of the Toronto Raptors during a preseason game at Staples Center on October 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 9
Next
Knicks
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 26: Dennis Smith Jr. #5 of the New York KnicksDennis Smith Jr. #5 of the New York Knicks reacts after a play against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at Spectrum Center on February 26, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Knicks 6th Man: Dennis Smith Jr.

Who knows what the price will be to acquire Chris Paul or move Julius Randle’s contract off the books, but if the Knicks are forced to package a young player in making those deals work, it seems likely either Frank Ntilikina or Kevin Knox would be more attractive options to other teams than Dennis Smith Jr.

One rumor has the Knicks including both Ntilikina and Knox in a potential deal for Paul.

That leaves the talented but underperforming Dennis Smith Jr. as a potential 6th man candidate in New York for next season. Tom Thibodeau reportedly was “enamored” with Smith Jr. coming out of college, and continues to be intrigued by his potential.

Give Smith Jr. some time with Thibs and player development gurus Johnnie Bryant and Kenny Payne, and who knows what could happen. Maybe there is some value to extract from the Kristaps Porzingis trade that doesn’t involve cap space or draft picks.

Smith Jr. needs to find his game again, but playing the role of sixth man off the bench fits his style of play. He can be a high-usage player without taking shots away from the primary scorers in the starting lineup. The key will be fixing his shot. After shooting 44 percent with Dallas before the trade in 2018-19, he saw his accuracy drop to 41.3 percent for the rest of that season and then to 34.1 percent this past year. If the new coaching staff can get Smith Jr. right, he could become a valuable player off the bench.

Home/Knicks News