New York Knicks: Why Dennis Smith Jr. is the wrong choice in 2017 NBA Draft

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:12 p.m. ET

Fansided, Eric Snyder/FanSided via Hoops Habit

The New York Knicks need a point guard in the 2017 NBA Draft and Dennis Smith Jr. may be their man. Unfortunately, Smith is not the man who the Knicks need.

There is no doubting the New York Knicks' need for a point guard. In all reality, the Knicks need two point guards: a veteran and a rookie. The horrible roster situation the Knicks find themselves with won't be repaired in one draft or one offseason.

However, making the wrong draft pick will only exacerbate the situation. The Knicks are not in a position to coddle a raw talent for two years before seeing on-court results. Whoever is drafted will enter a locker room with no direction, no leadership and no respect for the head coach.

The Knicks' point guard of the future will have his hands full as soon as he walks across the draft stage. From learning the triangle to navigating media landmines, development will be an uphill battle. Recently, NC State guard Dennis Smith Jr. has emerged as a possible candidate.

To many, Smith is a perfect choice with his athleticism and offensive upside. Of the available choices, he may have the most upside in the draft. Yet, there are a few different reasons the New York Knicks should look past this electric prospect.

Smith Jr. had meetings with the Knicks but there wasn't much of a workout, source said. https://t.co/159cbkVhx4

— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) June 7, 2017

The ACL

Two seasons ago, when Dennis Smith Jr. was still in high school, he tore his ACL and wasn't healed until halfway through this season. Once fully healed, Smith showed the explosiveness and skill that made him a five-star recruit. However, the Knicks cannot simply brush the injury aside, no matter how young he is.

Even the best surgeons cannot overcome the fact that ACL injuries/surgeries have long-term affects. Of these effects, injury of the opposite knee, often occurs in the years following surgery. Dr. Chris Centeno writes the following regarding the long-term effects of ACL surgery:

"Additional long-term effects of ACL reconstruction surgery include the fact that despite popular belief, knee arthritis is not prevented by undergoing ACL surgery, and, in fact, the operation may cause arthritis to set in sooner. Also either knee, the knee operated on or the opposite knee, has a six times greater chance of tearing following ACL surgery in active patients who return to sports after the surgery."

Smith may never have a knee issue again, and we all hope he doesn't. But the Knicks have to take this injury into account during their evaluation of the NC State product.

The Record

This was a make or break season for NC State and unfortunately for them, they were broken. A 16-17 record ended with their best player declaring for the NBA Draft and their head coach being fired.

The season included a loss to William & Mary, a five-game losing streak in January and losing three of their last four regular season games. Their best player was Dennis Smith Jr. There were various reasons the season went so bad, but Smith didn't make his team better.

For the Knicks, they have to take into account the performance of his team. The overall record indicates a lack of leadership, inability to make teammates better and insufficient competitive drive on the part of Smith Jr.

The point guard the New York Knicks need will have to be a leader and be able to uplift his teammates. What should the Knicks do if they can't find a point guard in the draft who is a proven winner? They should trade their pick or move on to an offensive wing player to replace Carmelo Anthony.

NBA Draft

Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Teammate

The last thing the New York Knicks need is another short-tempered diva like James Dolan on the floor of an NBA game. Rumors have swirled that Dennis Smith Jr. is exactly that type of diva. As Sara Peters wrote in Bleacher Report:

"He certainly takes plays off—quarters off and maybe games off…"

Peters goes on to note what many NC State fans saw throughout the year as they watched Smith Jr. on the floor.

"…Smith 'didn't appear to have great rapport with teammates' and was 'not vocal'…"

The New York Knicks are not going to be very good for the foreseeable future. If Smith couldn't emotionally handle a losing season in college, how will he react in the Big Apple? This question along with an examination of his role as a team player should give Phil Jackson concern.

On one hand, he may grow up quickly and be able to handle losing with grace as he grows through it. On the other hand, the Knicks don't have the culture in place to guide an immature guard to greater heights.

The New York Knicks draft team may very well decide that Dennis Smith Jr. is the young man they need to run their team. Yet, his past season at NC State shows that he is not the player the Knicks need to draft.