2017 NBA Mock Draft, Week 25: Lakers at No. 1, Knicks at No. 2
By Chris Stone
Dennis Smith Jr.
PG, North Carolina State
Draft status: In with an agent
The Orlando Magic are in a state of disarray and in need of a massive rebuilding job. While Elfrid Payton had the best season of his career in 2016-17, drafting an elite point guard prospect to challenge him — and his difficult archetype as a non-shooting point guard — should work out nicely in a draft class filled with them. Payton may ultimately prove to be a good long-term backup, but it’s hard to imagine being a contender with a point guard who can’t shoot at all.
North Carolina State’s Dennis Smith Jr. is an elite athlete with the potential to develop into a high scoring lead guard. He averaged 20.8 points and 7.1 assists per 40 minutes for the Wolfpack this season as they struggled and missed the NCAA Tournament. Smith can get to the basket at will and is a highlight reel finisher at the rim. He also made 35.9 percent of his 3-point attempts this season. A good 3-point shot can help open up driving lanes for him over time.
Defensively, Smith won’t be a versatile defender. At 6-foot-3 with an average wingspan, he isn’t very switchable. He also isn’t always engaged, but against Duke, for example, he was solid defending the point of attack. If Smith can even be an average defender, his offense should carry the day.