Dennis Smith, Jr. Thread

[E-Balla]

accidentally responded in a locked thread.

It’s still early. When it’s all said and done, DSJ could still be the best PG. Some players start off better than others but then they plateau, while others keep improving. The kid has all the tools is all I’m saying.

I love Fox though and right now he’s leading the pack.

i couldn't agree more. way too early. fox looks legit.

i disagree about one thing, junior is missing a very key tool that i was always concerned about with him. his athletic gifts are immense. he is a skilled passer. talented in the paint. i don't trust his jump shot... or his free throws. he gets his shooting together, he's a problem.

Yeah he'll never be great at least until he gets his FTs and midrange game. I think he'll develop it though. His midrange percentage went from 29.8% to 34.9% and his 3 point shooting isn't good but it isn't terrible (32% career shooter so far). Fox is better this year but it's easy to forget DSJ was better than him every year before this one and that this year he had to deal with the Doncic show while Fox had a team craft their whole team identity around his play (running up and down the court to catch defenses off guard and win games late with their superior stamina).

Fox has an 18 PER this year to DSJ's 16 so far in NY. If DSJ is his usual 69% at the line in NY instead of 54% his PER would be an 18 like Fox's. Fox's main advantage at this point is his defense which is on another level from DSJ.

[BeagleBoss]

Don't get too attached to Smith Jr. He'll likely get traded if/when we sign Kyrie.

[Cookies4Life]

I like Dotson but I believe he's better served coming off the bench. His defense is a bit overrated (he gets lost a good deal when his man moves without the ball,) and he lacks playmaking ability.

Slide Frank next to DSJ and I think you have something to work with. Both guys can handle the ball and make plays for others. It would be terrific if either of them could develop a jumper- especially Frank. That would make that tandem work really well.

Anyway I'm not low on any of our young guys; I see them for what they're worth- neophytes that show glimpses of what they can hopefully become in the near future.

[Amare_1_Knicks]

I wonder what we’re even doing with DSJ. He’s a talented prospect that we should’ve taken in last years draft(shame that the Knicks had to trade KP for a guy that should’ve been theirs anyway), but if Kemba/Kyrie are available and interested, where does that leave him(likely traded)?

Also, what if the Knicks aren’t able to get Zion or Barrett ? Do they take Morant and trade DSJ ?

[br7knicks]

Didn't watch game last night. How'd he do? See box score shows another overchuck game.

[br7knicks]

I'm okay with good shots, even if they're missing. As long as he's open, and there wasn't another more open teammate

[Knicksfan1992]

I like Dotson but I believe he's better served coming off the bench. His defense is a bit overrated (he gets lost a good deal when his man moves without the ball,) and he lacks playmaking ability.

Slide Frank next to DSJ and I think you have something to work with. Both guys can handle the ball and make plays for others. It would be terrific if either of them could develop a jumper- especially Frank. That would make that tandem work really well.

Anyway I'm not low on any of our young guys; I see them for what they're worth- neophytes that show glimpses of what they can hopefully become in the near future.

Yeah as far as our younger wings go my order is

Trier
Frank
Knox/Dotson
Hezonja

[Galou]

Whose the worst chucker? Hardaway or Smith?

[mrbochin]

Don't get too attached to Smith Jr. He'll likely get traded if/when we sign Kyrie.

Considering the injury history with Kyrie, I will gamble and let this kid develop instead of throwing all that money to Irving and this is coming from Kyrie fan since his early days in Cleveland.

[DOT]

I'm okay with good shots, even if they're missing. As long as he's open, and there wasn't another more open teammate

His shot selection definitely hasn't been an issue for me

It's why I'm pretty bullish on him, he's just showing the inconsistencies younger players have. If he gets his shooting down, he could be almost Lillard level

[drekwins]

Whose the worst chucker? Hardaway or Smith?

THJ will be 27 in March. He relies on his shooting... but his shooting percentages are worse than DSJ. THJ does nothing else on the court. DSJ is 21, creates for his teammates and actually shows some passion on the defensive end. He is also on a rookie contract. Now, GTFO.

[K_ick_God]

Didn't watch game last night. How'd he do? See box score shows another overchuck game.

His shot looks broken for the moment. He did drive well and had some nice looks. He is paying attention on D and trying. He had a great chasedown block that went the other way and Knox couldn't come close on a wide open 3.

He's working. I have no complaints at all really.

[drekwins]

I'm okay with good shots, even if they're missing. As long as he's open, and there wasn't another more open teammate

His shot selection definitely hasn't been an issue for me

It's why I'm pretty bullish on him, he's just showing the inconsistencies younger players have. If he gets his shooting down, he could be almost Lillard level

My whole thing is... why do people expect his shot to be rock solid? Only the absolute best have had reliable jumpers at his age. Curry, CP3, Irving, Doncic... there's not many more. JKidd took 5 years to shoot over 40%. Payton was awful early on. The same can be said about Westbrook, Wall, Lowry, Billups, Rose, Marbury, Kemba, Russell, Baron... and so many more. Lillard and Nash weren't even in the league at his age. People have to accept that Curry, CP3, Irving and Doncic are the extremely rare exceptions... Most players come in, have weaknesses, improve and become a great player between 26-28 years old. It's year number 2 for the kid.

[drekwins]

Didn't watch game last night. How'd he do? See box score shows another overchuck game.

His shot looks broken for the moment. He did drive well and had some nice looks. He is paying attention on D and trying. He had a great chasedown block that went the other way and Knox couldn't come close on a wide open 3.

He's working. I have no complaints at all really.

How much of it has to do with confidence and pressing? He was a 44% shooter overall and 34% from 3 over 32 games with Dallas. It has only been 6 games now with the Knicks. I trust the larger sample size more than the 6 games. For a further frame of reference, he was a 71% FT shooter and 36% 3PT shooter in college. RJ Barret is only a 33% 3PT shooter and Cam Reddish is only a 35% 3PT shooter. DSJ is right there with any other 21 year old that's not a naturally gifted shooter (very few are).

[Jeff Van Gully]

Didn't watch game last night. How'd he do? See box score shows another overchuck game.

His shot looks broken for the moment. He did drive well and had some nice looks. He is paying attention on D and trying. He had a great chasedown block that went the other way and Knox couldn't come close on a wide open 3.

He's working. I have no complaints at all really.

this. he's not as much a chucker as he is reeeeeeally struggling with his jumper right now. i don't have anything significant to complain about besides his shooting ability. he's trying to fit in and take hold of the point guard job, as he should.

[Galou]

Whose the worst chucker? Hardaway or Smith?

THJ will be 27 in March. He relies on his shooting... but his shooting percentages are worse than DSJ. THJ does nothing else on the court. DSJ is 21, creates for his teammates and actually shows some passion on the defensive end. He is also on a rookie contract. Now, GTFO.

This guy caught feelings

[BLACKFEET 2010]

Whose the worst chucker? Hardaway or Smith?

Bait much?

[Galou]

Whose the worst chucker? Hardaway or Smith?

Bait much?

Nope but funny

[br7knicks]

Didn't watch game last night. How'd he do? See box score shows another overchuck game.

His shot looks broken for the moment. He did drive well and had some nice looks. He is paying attention on D and trying. He had a great chasedown block that went the other way and Knox couldn't come close on a wide open 3.

He's working. I have no complaints at all really.

this. he's not as much a chucker as he is reeeeeeally struggling with his jumper right now. i don't have anything significant to complain about besides his shooting ability. he's trying to fit in and take hold of the point guard job, as he should.

That's what I said in my other post. I don't mind him shooting 30-40% for now, as long as they're good, smart shots.

They're all really young. I feel as long as we're seeing growth, and hustle, I have no complaints

[Nazrmohamed]

Don't get too attached to Smith Jr. He'll likely get traded if/when we sign Kyrie.

Wouldyou trade him and Dallas' 2 1sts if it meant a second top 5 pick in 2019? What if we landed Zion and could then draft Barrett or Reddish...or I guess at that point Murant?

Just let me dream