NBA Rumors: T-Wolves Feel They Can Unleash The Real Dennis Smith Jr.

The New York Knicks are in a period of transition and several of its players could be on the block. One player that some teams are keeping tabs with is Dennis Smith Jr., the 9th overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Acquired from the Dallas Mavericks last NBA season as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade, the 22-year-old guard has been struggling. After averaging 14.7 points, 5.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds in 21 games last season, his numbers have dipped severely. As of this writing, the former NC State product has struggled with 5.6 points, 2.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds.

There are of course a lot of other things worth considering. There is the sudden coaching change with Mike Miller now calling the shots. So far, Smith has not been a key part of his rotation. From that alone, there is a growing belief that the Knicks may be open to dealing with the 6-foot-3 guard to interested teams. One team that could inquire is the Minnesota Timberwolves.

According to Ian Begley of SNY, the T-Wolves are one of several teams monitoring Smith. One concern would be the asking price New York would want in the event of a trade or what assets they would demand. With Miller utilizing Frank Ntilikina and Elfrid Payton more, it would make sense for the Knicks to just deal Smith away for another player and/or future picks.

Smith could also be a good fit for the Timberwolves. He could also be a good replacement for Jeff Teague who is set to become a free agent after this season. Even if Minnesota re-signs Teague, Smith could be a valuable understudy too.

The T-Wolves have a young and promising core led by Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. A young Smith could be perfect, especially if he blends in with the two. Minnesota currently sports a 10-15 win-loss record in the NBA Western Conference. If Smith recalls his old form, he could be a prized acquisition that could help turn things around.

As for the Knicks, the team continues to establish a new identity. As mentioned in a previous post, their frontline could be dealt away soon. That would include Julius Randle, a promising young star that multiple teams would love to have on their roster.