Free agent guard Dennis Smith Jr. is scheduled to work out for the Knicks this week, reports Stefan Bondy of the New York Post (via Twitter). Smith is hoping to make a return to the NBA after being out of the league last season.
The No. 9 pick in the 2017 draft, Smith has spent seven seasons in the NBA, including roughly two calendar years with the Knicks from 2019-21 after being included as part of the return in New York’s trade of Kristaps Porzingis with the Mavericks.
Smith holds career averages of 9.7 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game on .407/.298/.674 shooting splits. The athletic guard turned himself into a high-level perimeter defender, especially in his later seasons with the Hornets and Nets.
Smith most recently appeared in the NBA during the 2023/24 season, when he played in 56 games for Brooklyn. He had a brief stint with Real Madrid last season, averaging 2.8 points in 8.8 minutes per contest across four appearances.
The Knicks currently only have 12 players officially under contract, though they’ve reached agreements on non-guaranteed deals with Landry Shamet, Malcolm Brogdon, and Garrison Mathews, have a two-way qualifying offer on the table for Kevin McCullar Jr., and are tentatively expected to sign second-round pick Mohamed Diawara to a standard contract.
Due to hard-cap restrictions, the Knicks will only be able to keep one non-guaranteed veteran (like Shamet, Brogdon, or Mathews) on the regular season roster unless they make a trade to shed salary, which is a possibility.
McBride, Kolek, Ariel H, draft rights to Lessort and picks to the Wolves for Donte D and Joe Ingles
Frees up a roster spot to while helping the team
Or trade Dadiet, Diawara and James N draft rights for something. Let Pate walk, don’t need one young guy again
Please talk about Pablo Torre more.
I’m all for getting the best you can. To be able to make a serious run at East. This tells me they must be looking at options at trading their young players. I just can’t see them moving Mitch now. Too bad they weren’t this concerned for Thibs lols.
I don’t see anyone beating out McBride. I still want to see this team play 25-30 gms. PG to me isn’t the #1 area that needs an upgrade. A Starting PF that helps and protects Towns should be the priority to me. Bringing Hart back to sixth man. Really strengthens team. We’ll see …..
Don’t want him. Want Danny Wolf!
IMO, I still rather have Burks back in New York. However, getting Donte back sounds amazing it’s not realistic
Trash