News broke today that the Dallas Mavericks are shopping former first round pick Dennis Smith Jr. Due to Smith Jr’s health concerns coming to fruition in only his second season, and Luca Doncic emerging as the true offensive focal point, it makes sense for Dallas to shop the young guard for a player that can help them in another area. Dennis Smith Jr. Has been limited to only twenty one games this year, and has been ineffective while he is on the floor.
Frank Ntilikina has had an equally as frustrating second year in the NBA. Already a statistically elite defender, Frank has been pedestrian offensively, and that is putting is mildly. Even though he has shown bright spots occasionally this season, Frank has been infuriatingly inconsistent. The French guard is only twenty years old, as has time to develop, but will the Knicks be patient?
Dennis Smith Jr. was high on New Yorks wish list during the 2017 draft and many fans bashed the Knicks for not taking him. But it honestly was not that simple. Smith Jr. had a terrible visit with Phil Jackson in which he was basically forced to eat squid and other foods he did not want too. Yes, you read that right. Google it if you don’t believe me. And Smith Jr. refused to give New York his medical records, effectively refusing to play for the Knicks. This is why the Knicks could not draft the young guard.
Dallas has always loved Frank Ntilikina and were rumored to take Frank in the 2017 draft, but the Knicks grabbed him before Dallas could. There is thought on both sides that a deal could get done. But should it?
Honestly this deal makes no sense for New York. Frank is underachieving for sure, and management seems to be running out of patience, but Dennis Smith Jr. is not the answer to New Yorks back court questions. With an already crowded back court full of scoring guards, an injury prone scorer with no different set of skills than Emmanuel Mudiay or Alonzo Trier is not the piece this team needs.
Frank is still developing. And even though it is at a slow rate, he has a brighter future than Smith Jr. and it really isn’t close. Keep Frank. Dennis Smith will be too banged up to start in a few seasons.
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