2020 NBA Trade Deadline: 5 young players who need a fresh start

NBA Trade Deadline 2020: 5 young players who need a fresh start

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 16: Devonte' Graham #4 and Malik Monk #1 of the Charlotte Hornets talk to Dennis Smith Jr. #5 of the New York Knicks after a game on November 16, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

3. You can always go back home

— OR we can do a straight-up swap of these two.

Rumors of a Malik Monk-for-Dennis Smith Jr. deal has swirled for some time now because it sorta makes sense in a, ‘I’ll take your garbage for my trash’ kinda way.

Smith came to the Knicks in the famous Kristaps Porzingis trade that snuck up and rocked the NBA world one quiet afternoon. Smith represented an upside talent for New York, someone who they considered drafting over Frank Ntilikina. In theory, the two would make a perfect pairing and could grow into the backcourt of the future.

Fast forward a year and Smith hasn’t gained any traction, instead only seeing his stock roll downhill. Send Smith Jr. back home where he grew up and hopefully the proximity to his collegiate stomping grounds provides the spark needed to get his mojo back. Being in Charlotte seemed to work wonders on a small scale Tuesday night. It’s not exactly lighting the world on fire, but seven points, three rebounds and two assists in 15 minutes stands as one of his better games in recent memory.

Maybe I’m biased, but I still believe in Dennis Smith Jr. At the very least, he should be playing backup guard for 20 minutes a night on a bad team. That bad team could have been the Knicks, but as more time goes by, it’s become clearer it won’t be.

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