Lower than 4 years in the past, Dennis Smith Jr. was the ninth general decide within the 2017 NBA Draft. However after a somewhat promising rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks, Smith was traded to the New York Knicks as a part of the commerce for Kristaps Porzingis, and by no means discovered her place at Madison Sq. Backyard.
This season, with new coach Tom Thibodeau, Smith has battled accidents and located himself on the periphery of the staff, enjoying simply 28 minutes in three video games to date. In consequence, he reportedly requested the staff to permit him to play within the G League bubble subsequent month, in accordance with Stefan Bondy of the New York Day by day Information:
Looking forward to replays and an opportunity to show he is nonetheless an NBA prospect, Knicks level guard Dennis Smith Jr. has utilized to play within the G-League bubble, the Day by day Information has discovered. The Knicks are anticipated to grant Smith Jr.’s G-League request, in accordance with a league supply.
To finish a seasonal look, the G League is able to faucet into the bubble the NBA used at Disney World. Eighteen groups, together with the Knicks’ G League staff, the Westchester Knicks, will journey to Florida to play a 15-game season starting in mid-February.
Whereas it takes a little bit of bravery and sincere self-reflection to ask to be despatched to the G League, this can be a sensible transfer from Smith. He has barely performed for the Knicks and does not appear to have a transparent path to common minutes, particularly after the good begin from rookie guard Immanuel Quickley.
Within the bubble, he is not going to solely have an opportunity to play significant basketball once more, but in addition an opportunity to maybe impress one other staff earlier than his impending free company this summer time. His rookie contract ends after this season, and it appears unlikely that he’ll return to New York given how issues have gone.
