Prior to the 2017 NBA Draft last week, there had been reports that the New York Knicks had some interest in possibly taking former NC State point guard Dennis Smith Jr. with the eighth overall pick.
However, the Knicks instead elected to take French point guard Frank Ntilikina with the selection. During a recent episode of “The Lowe Post Podcast,” Ian Begley and Howard Beck gave more insight as to why New York had passed on the 19-year-old. (h/t Hoops Hype)
“I heard there were concerns about Dennis Smith from a medical standpoint … You never know with these situations – are agents withholding information because they don’t want you to draft a guy? But there was, I believe, a lack of access to medical records.”
The Knicks did not hold an individual pre-draft workout with Smith Jr., but did have dinner with him. It was also revealed that his representatives denied the team a chance to take his measurements and a medical exam during his meeting with the team. All of this likely stemmed back to the torn ACL that he suffered back in high school that forced him to miss his entire senior season, but it could also be because they didn't want to be drafted by the Knicks, who were a train-wreck headed by Phil Jackson.
These factors alone put him out of reach for the Knicks due to the uncertainty about his health and unwillingness to comply with the team's request prior to the draft. However, it did allow him to fall to the Dallas Mavericks at the ninth overall pick where he has a chance to etch out a significant role with the team.
Smith Jr. displayed much promise in the Las Vegas Summer League averaging an explosive 17.3 points on 45.7 percent shooting from the field with 4.2 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 steals in 25.8 minutes per contest in six games played.
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