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Dennis Smith Jr. Working Out For Knicks

September 14th, 2025 at 9:59pm CST by Eli Cohen

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.

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Dennis Smith Jr. Among Players At Sixers’ Minicamp

June 5th, 2025 at 6:37pm CST by Arthur Hill

Dennis Smith Jr. is participating in the Sixers‘ two-day veterans minicamp this week, sources tell Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).

The 27-year-old guard is hoping to return to the NBA after a one-year absence. After failing to catch on with anyone prior to the start of the season, Smith signed a G League contract in mid-December. He was hoping to be claimed by the Austin Spurs, but wound up with the Wisconsin Herd and never played for them.

Smith headed to Europe in mid-January, signing with Real Madrid for the rest of the season. He reportedly wasn’t in top condition when he arrived in Spain and only appeared in two games. He left after about a month in hopes of being picked up by an NBA team with a roster opening, but that didn’t happen so now he’s hoping to work his way back into the league through offseason auditions.

Smith spent time with six teams during his seven NBA seasons. He was selected by Dallas with the ninth pick in 2017, but was traded to New York midway through his second season. He was sent to Detroit two years later and then had one-year stints with Portland, Charlotte and Brooklyn.

Smith was an extremely explosive and athletic guard coming into the league, but shooting issues prevented him from ever reaching stardom. He’s averaging 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 326 NBA games with career shooting splits of .407/.298/.674.

Other minicamp participants include Eugene Omoruyi, Malcolm Hill, Adama Sanogo, Alondes Williams, Malik Williams, Armando Bacot, Javonte Cooke, Judah Mintz and Leaky Black, Pompey adds (Twitter link).

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Dennis Smith Jr. Departs Real Madrid, Eyes NBA Return

February 18th, 2025 at 8:06pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Dennis Smith Jr. has left Real Madrid with the intent of returning to the NBA this season, league insider Chris Haynes tweets.

Smith signed with Real Madrid in mid-January. According to Ramon Alvarez de Mon of Radio Marca (hat tip to Eurohoops.net), Smith hadn’t adapted well in Madrid. Though the club was satisfied with his attitude, his physical condition reportedly wasn’t up to par. He only made two EuroLeague appearances and wasn’t even included on the team’s roster during the recent Spanish Copa del Rey tournament.

The ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft, Smith has appeared in a total of 326 regular season games for the Mavericks, Knicks, Pistons, Trail Blazers, Hornets, and Nets over the course of seven NBA seasons.

He made 56 appearances last season for Brooklyn, averaging 6.6 points, 3.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 18.9 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .435/.294/.741.

Smith signed a G League contract in December, expecting to be claimed by the Austin Spurs. However, the Bucks’ affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, claimed him instead. He didn’t play in a game for the Herd.

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Dennis Smith Jr. Signs With Real Madrid

January 16th, 2025 at 7:18am CST by Luke Adams

JANUARY 16: Real Madrid has officially announced its rest-of-season deal with Smith.

JANUARY 15: Free agent point guard Dennis Smith Jr. has traveled to Spain and is expected to sign with Real Madrid, pending a physical, according to reports from Nacho Duque of Marca and Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops.

Ricardo Gonzalez of AS.com initially reported on Tuesday that the possibility of Smith joining Real Madrid was gaining steam. The EuroLeague club had previously been linked to another veteran NBA guard, Devonte’ Graham, but Smith reportedly became the team’s priority in recent days.

Smith reposted several stories on his Instagram about his impending deal with Real Madrid, including a photo from Madrid’s airport.

The ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft, Smith has appeared in a total of 326 regular season games for the Mavericks, Knicks, Pistons, Trail Blazers, Hornets, and Nets over the course of seven NBA seasons. He made 56 appearances last season for Brooklyn, averaging 6.6 points, 3.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 18.9 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .435/.294/.741.

Smith isn’t much of a scorer or shooter, with career marks of 40.7% from the floor and 29.8% on three-pointers. However, he’s a solid ball-handler and distributor and a strong point-of-attack defender.

Smith signed a G League contract last month, expecting to be claimed by the Austin Spurs. However, the Bucks’ affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, claimed him instead. It’s unclear if the 27-year-old ever reported to the Herd — either way, he didn’t play in a game for the team.

Assuming he officially completes his deal in the coming days, Smith will be joining a Real Madrid team that features a handful of former NBA players, including Facundo Campazzo, Mario Hezonja, Dzanan Musa, Serge Ibaka, and Usman Garuba.

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And-Ones: Team Canada, DSJ, 2025 Draft, Kendrick

December 21st, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Arthur Hill

Canadian players are still dealing with the disappointment of not winning a medal at this year’s Summer Olympics, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. Featuring a roster loaded with NBA talent, Team Canada had a chance to reach a milestone for the nation’s basketball program. Instead, they left Paris empty-handed with the realization that the next opportunity is four long years away.

“It’s different once it’s over and you realize that you’re not going to be in that position, not have a chance for four more years,” RJ Barrett said. “Like, that’s a rough part about it, especially when we felt like we had a team that had a great mix. I think we had young guys, but not rookies, you know, and we had guys in their prime or close to their prime, and we had some vets that are still at a good stage in their career. We had the experience, and we had the talent, we got we had the coach. We felt like that was our time, but I think experience, and those type of tournaments is huge.”

The Canadians looked like a legitimate threat to capture the gold after going undefeated in pool play against Greece, Australia and Spain, who were all viewed as medal contenders. But their hopes ended quickly with an 82-73 loss to France in the quarterfinal round. Grange notes that Canada was able to control Victor Wembanyama, holding him to seven points on 2-of-10 shooting with Dillon Brooks guarding him for much of the game, but Guerschon Yabusele and Mathias Lessort led the hosts to victory by combining for 35 points.

“Every year, I get a chance to win an NBA championship,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said, “(but it’s only) every four years I get a chance to try to win the Olympics, you know?”

There’s more from around the basketball world:

  • When Dennis Smith Jr. entered the G League player pool, he was expecting to be claimed by the Spurs‘ affiliate, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer write in a Substack column (subscription required). Instead, he wound up with the Bucks‘ affiliate, making his future in the G League less certain, sources tell The Stein Line. Real Madrid reportedly has interest if Smith wants to play in the EuroLeague.
  • Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey are making an impact at Rutgers, but the NBA executives and draft experts who talked to Adam Zagoria of NJ.com believe Duke’s Cooper Flagg remains very likely to be the top pick in 2025.
  • Frank Kendrick, who was part of a championship team with the Warriors during his only NBA season, died this week at age 74, the team announced (via Twitter). Kendrick also won an NIT title at Purdue and was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
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Central Notes: LaVine, Lillard, Smith, Sheppard, Furphy

December 19th, 2024 at 10:28pm CST by Earnest Marshall

Zach LaVine has reinvented himself and is restoring his trade value, says Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic.

LaVine’s play hasn’t been bad during his time with the Bulls, but his large contract (owed $44.5MM in AAV over the next two seasons with a $48.9MM player option in 2026/27) is a deterrent in this second-apron era and he missed much of last season due to a foot injury. This year, LaVine has taken his offensive game to another level in terms of efficiency. He’s shooting what would be a career-best 42.8% from beyond the arc on 7.5 attempts per game.

The Nuggets have reportedly shown real interest in trading for LaVine, which is a testament to just how much he has changed outside perceptions about his game this season. An anonymous Western Conference scout spoke to Mayberry about a potential fit between LaVine and Denver.

“He’s obviously going to have to defer (offensively),” the scout said of LaVine. “But the thing about (Nikola) Jokić is he makes everybody better. I’d be champing at the bit to be playing off of him. I think [LaVine] will fit in fine. Jokić is so special, he makes guys better probably more than anybody in the entire league.”

We have more from the Central Division:

  • For his part, LaVine remains focused on the Bulls, according to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network (Twitter links). “I’m not the one controlling that,” LaVine said of the trade rumors. “That’s what has been so good about my mindset. I can control what my mood is and my mindset going into each game. Outside of that, it’s out of my control. … I signed a lengthy contract here for a reason. I wanted to stay here. But it’s always good to know you have interest because that means you’re a player other people want to play with. I’m just thankful the position I’m at today getting ready for defending NBA champs.” LaVine’s 42.8% three-point percentage is a 7.9 percentage point increase from the previous season and he’s averaging 21.7 points per game.
  • After signing a G League contract on Wednesday, Dennis Smith Jr. was claimed by the Bucks‘ G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, according to NBA insider Marc Stein (Twitter link). Smith will also have a pro day in Orlando in front of several NBA teams as he hopes to make his league return, insider Chris B. Haynes relays (Twitter link). Smith went unsigned this offseason after spending last year with the Nets.
  • Milwaukee’s NBA Cup win gave Damian Lillard a taste of why he was traded to the Bucks, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Jim Owczarski writes. “I feel happy,” Lillard said. “The experience of winning something. I’ve had a lot of experience individually where I’ve had accomplishments and stuff, but to have some team success and win something and be the last team standing in this tournament, it feels great.“
  • After missing the last 14 games with a strained oblique, Ben Sheppard was available for the Pacers on Thursday, as first reported by IndyStar’s Dustin Dopirak (Twitter link). The second-year wing played a limited role off the bench.
  • Sheppard’s return might mean fewer minutes for second-round rookie Johnny Furphy, but the Pacers were impressed by what they saw from the young guard when he stepped up amid injuries. In 17 games this season, he’s averaging 3.4 points and shooting 39.3% from three. “We drafted Furphy to play 40 games in the G League and he’s been in our rotation,” coach Rick Carlisle said, per Dopirak (Twitter link).
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Dennis Smith Jr. Signing G League Contract

December 18th, 2024 at 8:41am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent point guard Dennis Smith Jr. is signing a G League contract ahead of this week’s Winter Showcase in Orlando, sources tell Jake Fischer (Twitter link).

It’s not yet clear which team Smith will land with, but Marc Stein notes (via Twitter) that the Mexico City Capitanes and Long Island Nets are at the top of the NBAGL’s waiver order, meaning they’ll have first dibs once the veteran guard officially signs his contract. For now, there’s no mention of Smith in the G League’s transaction log.

The ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft, Smith has appeared in a total of 326 regular season games for the Mavericks, Knicks, Pistons, Trail Blazers, Hornets, and Nets over the course of seven NBA seasons. He made 56 appearances last season for Brooklyn, averaging 6.6 points, 3.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 18.9 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .435/.294/.741.

Smith isn’t much of a scorer or shooter, with career marks of 40.7% from the floor and 29.8% on three-pointers. However, he’s a solid ball-handler and distributor and an above-average point-of-attack defender.

The 27-year-old will be looking to show executives and scouts in Orlando that he deserves another shot in the NBA. The G League’s Winter Showcase tips off on Thursday and runs through Sunday, with each team playing at least two games.

Big man Frank Kaminsky and point guard Devonte’ Graham are among the other NBA veterans who have recently signed G League contracts in the hopes of making an impression at the Winter Showcase.

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Southwest Notes: Zion, Wembanyama, Grizzlies, Griffin

September 30th, 2024 at 9:02am CST by Arthur Hill

Zion Williamson was headed toward the defining moment of his NBA career in April before another injury knocked him out of action, writes William Guillory of The Athletic. The Pelicans star had just scored his 40th point to complete an 18-point comeback and tie the Lakers late in their play-in game when he felt a jolt of pain in his left hamstring. Williamson’s season was over, and although New Orleans still made the playoffs, its first-round series ended with a four-game sweep.

Feeling he had failed the team and the city, Williamson embarked on an intense early-morning workout schedule for the offseason, according to Guillory. Since July, in a small gym near Dallas, he has embraced his motivation to become one of the game’s elite players. He and the organization are finally on the same page after years of reported division, Guillory adds.

“I want to be one of them ones. I’ve been talking about it and I’ve been making mistakes (along the way),” Williamson said. “That stuff can’t happen. It’s time to take every game personal.”

Another sign of Williamson’s commitment was his decision to take part in the team’s voluntary August workouts in California for the first time in his career. He hoped to create a stronger bond with his teammates while improving his game in the process.

“(I want to) learn from (Brandon Ingram). Learn from CJ (McCollum). Learn from guys who have been in the league longer than me. Paying attention to their professionalism,” Williamson said. “Not even being a good teammate, just being a good brother. So when you get on the court, your teammates believe in you. They trust your work, and they trust that you’ve got them.”

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

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Stein’s Latest: Kuminga, Podziemski, Markkanen, Jones, Thibodeau, Dinwiddie, Morris

July 21st, 2024 at 5:52pm CST by Dana Gauruder

There’s a growing belief in league circles that the Warriors are more willing to trade Jonathan Kuminga than Brandin Podziemski in a blockbuster deal for Lauri Markkanen or another impact player, Marc Stein reports in his latest Substack notebook.

Rumors of Golden State’s interest in Markkanen have been floated for weeks. According to Stein’s sources, the Jazz have enough interest in a package of Podziemski and future draft compensation that they could move Markkanen before Aug. 6, when Markkanen becomes eligible to renegotiate and extend his contract. He has an expiring $18MM deal.

The Warriors are reluctant to part with Podziemski not only because of how highly they value his on-court contributions but also for financial reasons. He has three years left on his rookie contract while Kuminga is eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason. Any raise for Podziemski wouldn’t come onto the books until the contracts of Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins expire in the summer of 2027.

Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes and Franz Wagner — members of the same rookie class as Kuminga — have all signed max extensions. It’s unlikely Golden State will make that type of offer to him, but he’s due for a large raise.

It remains to be seen if adding Kuminga to a trade package would move the needle for Utah’s front office. Thus far, Golden State’s offers for Markkanen have centered around a combination of Moses Moody and other contracts, plus draft compensation, without including Podziemski or Kuminga, Stein adds.

The Warriors wouldn’t be able to immediately extend Markkanen since renegotiation-and-extension scenarios are only available to teams with cap space. But their continued interest in him suggests they’re confident they can lock him up long-term next offseason if they acquire him.

Here’s more from Stein:

  • Carlik Jones‘ triple-double for South Sudan against Team USA could lead to renewed interest from NBA teams. Jones recently signed a two-year deal with Serbia’s Partizan Belgrade but the contract includes an NBA escape clause, valid through Thursday. Jones was the NBA G League MVP for the 2022/23 season, when he had a two-way deal with the Bulls. Last season, Jones played in China for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls.
  • Expect a contract extension for Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau in the near future. Thibodeau would be entering the final season of his original five-year contract without an extension but he’s expected to sign a new deal with a value of at least $10MM annually.
  • The Mavericks have a roster opening and they’re interested in re-signing Spencer Dinwiddie. Two other guards, Dennis Smith Jr. and Talen Horton-Tucker, are also under consideration but Dinwiddie is believed to be the team’s top choice. They’re also interested in retaining forward Markieff Morris, who is considered a lock to return, says Stein.
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New York Notes: Jokubaitis, Randle, Wilson, DSJ, Walker, Howard

July 17th, 2024 at 8:48pm CST by Arthur Hill

Rokas Jokubaitis has been a Summer League standout, but the Knicks don’t seem to have a roster spot for another guard, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. Jokubaitis turned in an impressive performance on Wednesday, making all seven of his shots from the field while finishing with 16 points, five assists, two steals and a block in a narrow win over Sacramento.

A second-round pick in the 2021 draft, Jokubaitis is under contract with Barcelona, but Popper notes that it might be tough for him to get playing time there in a backcourt that features Ricky Rubio and Juan Nunez. He may have the option to join Zalgiris in his native Lithuania, according to Popper, or the Knicks could send his draft rights to another NBA team as part of a trade.

There’s more on the New York City teams:

  • Julius Randle‘s recovery from shoulder surgery is going “incredibly well” and he’s looking forward to being part of the Knicks‘ revamped roster following the trade for Mikal Bridges, Ian Begley of SNY states in a mailbag column. On August 3, Randle will become eligible for an extension of up to four years and $181.5MM, but Begley hears that negotiations on a new deal “aren’t at the forefront” for either Randle or the team.
  • Jalen Wilson looks like a veteran in his second Summer League experience, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. The 2023 second-round pick has been a team leader for the Nets, scoring 27 points and finishing plus-19 in Tuesday’s comeback victory over the Knicks. “It’s fresh as a rookie; you don’t know really what to expect. But now this is my second year coming back,” Wilson said. “It’s just fun. You get to see things, get to experience having a chance to win it. That’s the thing that drives a guy, especially when it’s our second time doing it.”
  • Dennis Smith Jr. has been cheering for the Nets in Las Vegas, but sources tell Collin Helwig of NetsDaily that the free agent guard is considered “very unlikely” to be back in Brooklyn. Lonnie Walker is also expected to move onto another team, Hellwig adds.
  • Juwan Howard talks to Adam Zagoria of NJ.com about why he decided to join the Nets‘ coaching staff.
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