New York Knicks guard Dennis Smith Jr. is pretty confident about his team's chances next season, and he's not really concerned about the Brooklyn Nets who recently acquired All-Stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

In an interview with Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, the incoming third-year guard said that he's not surprised about what happened with the Nets. He added that he's not really thinking too much about their crosstown rivals because he likes what he sees from the Knicks.

“I wasn’t surprised, to be honest with you. People in the league talk anyway. They just keep it private. People in the league talk. They’re great players but I like what we have, to be honest with you. I know there are a lot of hecklers out there and talking this that and the third. But I like what we have and I’m not really concerned with what’s going on in Brooklyn.”

The Knicks missed out on Durant and Irving despite the fact that they were rumored to be the frontrunners in being able to sign both. Shortly after the duo announced that they were headed to the Nets, New York used their cap space to add players like Julius Randle, Bobby Portis, and Efrid Payton.

Those three, along with Smith, Mitchell Robinson, and 2019 third overall pick RJ Barrett give the Knicks an intriguing set of young talent. The team could make a couple more moves to add depth to the roster before the start of next season.

One can argue that the Knicks are good enough to steal the eighth seed in the East.

The Nets won't be at full strength until the 2020-21 season, as Durant is set to sit out the next one while recovering from his Achilles injury. By then, Irving will be a year older. If the Knicks' young core will be able to build something good next season, who knows? They might become a better team than what most people think.