Dennis Smith Jr. on four PGs being picked before him: "I just use it as fuel to the fire. I've been underrated my whole life, and I'm perfectly fine with it. I'm accustomed to it. I'm going to go out and be Dennis Smith, and nothing can stop that."
Donnie Nelson says Dennis Smith Jr. pick eliminates need for Mavs to target PG in free agency.
Dennis Smith Jr. compared himself to "Derrick Rose with a jump shot" during a pre-draft interview with the Mavs.
Rick Carlisle leaves no doubt Mavs wanted Dennis Smith over Frank Ntilikina, saying there was "uproarious" applause when Knicks made pick.
Before question was even asked, Rick Carlisle said Mavs are projecting Dennis Smith Jr. to start as a rookie. Cites intelligence, maturity as well as athleticism. "We believe he's going to be a tremendous player for us and right away."
Rick Carlisle says Mavs believe Dennis Smith Jr. is as good as any PG in the draft. "We're getting a guy that's an instant-impact guy."
Mavericks select Dennis Smith No. 9 overall. He's the highest-drafted player from NC State since Tom Gugliotta in 1992 (6th).
Love the fit of Dennis Smith, my most underrated prospect in the lottery, in Dallas. He should thrive in Rick Carlisle's spread pick-and-roll.
The Dallas Mavericks selected NC State guard Dennis Smith Jr. with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2017 NBA draft on Thursday night.
Top Dennis Smith top comparable players according to ESPN's analytic draft model are: John Wall Derrick Rose Jrue Holiday CJ McCollum Tyreke Evans
With the No. 9 overall pick, the Mavericks selected Dennis Smith Jr. (G, NC State). In the past 20 years, three No. 9 picks have played for Dallas: Amar'e Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Dirk Nowitzki.
The Mavs were wowed by Dennis Smith Jr.'s athleticism in his workout and believe he can contribute immediately.
Mavs GM Donnie Nelson: "This is a building-block opportunity that we won't miss on."
Mavs GM Donnie Nelson: "Don't look for a lot of movement. ... 9 is a very solid area where there's a group of players we really like."
Sources say Mavs and Timberwolves discussed swapping Wesley Matthews and the No. 9 pick for Ricky Rubio and No. 7. However, a source described those talks as "dead" at this point. Dallas does not feel urgency to move up from No. 9.
In 1998, the Bucks took Nowitzki, who was then traded to the Mavericks and finished with more career win shares than any other No. 9 selection in NBA draft history.
Dallas should go with Frank Ntilikina at the No. 9 pick instead of a big man. The 6-foot-5 Frenchman could be develop into a good point guard if the Mavs are patient.
ESPN's Chad Ford reports that French point guard Frank Ntilikina's coach at SIG Strasbourg, Vincent Collet, will coach with the Dallas Mavericks' summer league team in Orlando. Ntilikina is projected to go to the Knicks at No. 8 in Ford's latest mock draft. Dallas has the ninth pick.
Dirk Nowitzki, the career scoring leader among international players, will be one of the captains for the NBA's Africa Game on Aug. 5 along with Kemba Walker, Luol Deng and Thabo Sefolosha.
Dennis Smith Jr. is an athletic point guard that Dallas could build around. The Mavericks could potentially move up to secure him.
Louisville's Donovan Mitchell will not meet with the Knicks on Monday, as has been reported. He is working out for the Dallas Mavericks on Monday in front of Donnie Nelson and his staff and is scheduled to work out for the Knicks on Tuesday and meet with Phil Jackson and his staff, according to sources familiar with the Knicks' workout schedule. Mitchell has drawn strong interest from the Knicks and his workout could be the last one for the club before it makes its final decisions on the eighth pick. Also under consideration are French guard Frank Ntilikina, North Carolina State's Dennis Smith Jr. and Kentucky guard Malik Monk, among others. Mitchell, who prefers to work out in a group setting to show teams his defensive skill set, will workout in a group setting along with Villanova's Josh Hart – a potential second-round pick for NYK – and others, per sources.
This is a mock draft, but it's not an ordinary mock. This time, instead of making predictions, Jeff Goodman plays the role of decision-maker for each franchise.
The release of the NBA Summer League schedule reveals a matchup between the top two draft picks.
| RD(PK) | PLAYER | POS | SCHOOL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1(9) | Dennis Smith | PG | North Carolina State |
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio | 61 | 21 | .744 | - | L3 |
| Houston | 55 | 27 | .671 | 6 | W1 |
| Memphis | 43 | 39 | .524 | 18 | L2 |
| New Orleans | 34 | 48 | .415 | 27 | W1 |
| Dallas | 33 | 49 | .402 | 28 | W1 |
| YEAR | W | L | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 33 | 49 | .402 |
| 2015-16 | 42 | 40 | .512 |
| 2014-15 | 50 | 32 | .610 |
| 2013-14 | 49 | 33 | .598 |
| 2012-13 | 41 | 41 | .500 |
