Dennis Smith Jr. met with Knicks team president Phil Jackson and according to the prospect’s trainer, he would love a chance to play with Carmelo Anthony, as Adam Zagoria of Fan Rag relays.
“Those guys are proven, USA [Basketball], Olympic players, I think he would mesh well. And Junior wants to learn now, too,” Smith’s longtime trainer Shawn Farmer. “He doesn’t just want to go in and think he knows everything. He wants to get up under those guys’ wing and learn from those guys.”
Farmer added playing in the triangle wouldn’t upset Smith. “He saw it was successful prior years with Kobe [Bryant] and all of those kids [on the Lakers]. So Junior is one of the smartest basketball players I’ve ever been around and I’ve played professionally in Europe. I’ve been around a lot of pros and not being biased, he’s such a smart kid,” Farmer said.
The NC State product was expected to work out for New York on Wednesday, but that never took place, Ian Begley of ESPN.com reports (ESPN Now link). The point guard also met with the Magic on Wednesday, so it’s possible that he received a draft promise from Orlando and decided not to go through drills with the Knicks, though that is merely my speculation.
Here’s more from the Big Apple:
- New York is considering Donovan Mitchell as an option for the No. 8 overall selection, Marc Berman of the New York Post reports. Berman adds that the Louisville product is expected to work out for the team this week.
- Nigel Williams-Goss is on the Knicks‘ radar, Begley adds in a separate ESPN Now link. The Gonzaga star is expected to come off the board in the second round and New York owns the No. 44 and No. 58 selections.
- The Knicks have worked out Jaron Blossomgame, Ike Iroegbu, and Erik McCree, according to Cody Taylor of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link).
Mitchell or Collins entering the top-10 would probably spark some trades from a few teams looking to get a Markkanen or Monk or even Ntilikina.
The Knicks better trade down if they want Mitchell…no way he should go top 10 in this draft. His upside is strictly as a role player.
Mitchell reminds me of a Francis/Irving clone, I wouldnt mind taking him at 8 the dude will not lack confidence and be phenomenal as either a 6th man or starting guard.
Huh? Steve Francis?? You must be thinking of Dennis Smith, Jr. Donovan Mitchell is more like Avery Bradley or worst case Toney Douglass…not Francis or Kyrie Irving LOL
But Phil already said Melo would be better off elsewhere. Maybe if Phil and Melo make peace drafting Dennis would be the best option plus Porzingis would be happy and that would make the Knicks even better. They should keep Melo,draft Smith JR and we’ll be in the playoffs next year with KP going HAMM!!!
As a Knick fan it pains me to say this but the Knicks are not making the playoffs with Phil and James Dolan running the show. The inner turmoil existing from the front office will ensure the Knicks another losing season. The time to trade Melo was 3 years ago heading into his contract year now they will dump him for bench players with horrible contracts just to rid themselves of they consider the problem.
Lets not be so sure because the Knicks priority is keeping Porzingis happy and getting rid of Melo won’t make him happier. With or without Melo the Knicks will have a chance at the playoffs just because Porzingis will become a likely all star starter next season and lead the Knicks with or without Melo. Whom ever they draft is sure to be a productive player with all star potential, whether thats Smith JR,Monk,Ntikilina, or even Isaac if he slips.
The Cavs will take Melo for Tristan Thompson and Iman Shumpert lol
I actually like Mitchell, but more in the 10-12 range
Mitchell is a bottom of the first round guy at best.
Well, you obviously haven’t been doing much draft research recently.