Mavericks draft Dennis Smith Jr: A franchise piece?
By Reid Hanson
The Dallas Mavericks used their ninth pick to select North Carolina State point guard, Dennis Smith Jr. Is he the franchise piece they need to build around?
The Mavericks had their highest draft pick in what seems like forever. Such are the benefits of a losing season. But high picks are pointless if you can’t turn them in for quality players and it appears that’s exactly what the Mavs did when they selected Dennis Smith Jr.
Dennis Smith Jr was one of the safest scenarios for the Mavs this draft. The extremely athletic scorer from North Carolina State has undeniable NBA talent. No one questions if he’s going to be a player in this league. They only question what kind of player.
The 6’3” 195lb point with a 48” vertical averaged 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. Not necessarily the pass-first point guard the Mavs discussed getting earlier this offseason. Rather Smith describes himself as “Derrick Rose with a jump shot”. The good Derrick Rose, by the way.
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If he proves to be anything like Derrick Rose, the Mavericks will no doubt have a franchise player on their hands. As long as he can work with, and not against, the demanding coaching of Rick Carlisle, he could be an absolute star in this league.
Today’s NBA is rich in point guard talent and the Mavericks have been one of the few teams lacking at the one spot. Now in the course of a few months the Mavs seem set for the future with Dennis Smith Jr and Yogi Ferrell running the show.
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Something to build around
Dennis Smith Jr isn’t the project piece that other potential draft options were. The 19-year old is expected to start from Day 1. The reported love the Mavs had French product, Frank Ntilikina was more likely a smokescreen than truth. And according to the Mavs, Dennis Smith Jr is the guy they were targeting all along.
Whether that’s true or not will probably never be known. I mean, what are they supposed to say? That they were hoping for someone else? Still, many predicted French Frank wasn’t the real object of their affection and that Smith was. Judging by the Mavs reaction when Smith fell to them that appears to be the case.
Smith is dynamic player and dynamic personality. He’s going to be extremely marketable and attractive to other NBA players. An alpha among alphas, Smith may finally be that player that makes the Mavericks attractive to outside free agents.
Next: Klay Thompson a Dallas Maverick?
It’s going to take time for the Mavs to become contenders again but the addition of franchise cornerstone Dennis Smith Jr may expedite that rebuild.