Brooklyn Nets Officially Sign Former 9th Overall Pick
Dennis Smith Jr. was seen as a potential All-Star coming out of NC State in 2017.
This past year, he averaged 8.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.4 steals per contest while shooting 41.2% from the field in 54 regular season games for the Charlotte Hornets.
Over the summer, Smith Jr. became a free agent, and on Saturday, the Brooklyn Nets announced that they had signed the 25-year-old.
The talented point guard was the ninth pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks and averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists per contest during his rookie season.
On July 1, Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported that his contract with the Nets is for one year.
Via Charania: "Free agent guard Dennis Smith Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. The Nets made Smith a priority in free agency as their first call, and he becomes their first addition of the summer."
In addition to the Mavs and Hornets, Smith Jr. has also played for the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons and Portland Trail Blazers.
His career averages are 10.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.1 steals per contest while shooting 40.3% from the field in 270 regular season games.
Since he is still young, there is no question that Smith Jr. could develop into a good NBA player.
As for the Nets, they are coming off a season where they were the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and were swept by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
