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We’ve heard rumors about most of the guys in the top-10, so it’s time for another one. According to a report from ESPN’s Ian Begley, there are members of the Sixers who are interested in North Carolina State point guard Dennis Smith Jr.
Here’s what Begley had to say about Smith:
It's anyone's guess where all of the point guards in the 2017 NBA Draft will end up – but some members of the Philadelphia 76ers remain big fans of North Carolina State's Dennis Smith Jr., per league sources. Smith Jr. is projected as a top-10 pick. But he is not seen as a top-3 pick. So if Philadelphia acquired Smith Jr. on Draft Night it would presumably have traded its No. 3 pick to a position lower in the first round to do so.
Smith Jr. has worked out for the Lakers and Magic and met with the Knicks but did not work out for them. It is unclear if he will work out for Philadelphia but he's expected to work out in front of several teams on Thursday in a private workout, sources confirmed.
Although some members of our staff have Smith in the top-three for our composite Big Board, I tend to agree with Begley’s assessment that the Sixers would be targeting if they traded back. The rumored swap with the Kings just won’t seem to go away, and he would very much be in play at No. 5 if they decided that’s the route they want to take.
Though Smith’s game can be excruciating to watch sometimes if you place defense high on the priority list—it’s one half of the game, you know—he’s an electric talent when he gets it going. We saw flashes of his athleticism pop as he began to get up to speed again post-ACL tear, and behind Markelle Fultz, he has the best chance to be a three-level scorer of the guard prospects in the lottery.
The question is who likes Smith in the front office, and just how much they like him. If it’s just a couple of guys on the analytics team, no big deal. If Bryan Colangelo is dreaming of him dunking on Kristaps Porzingis, you might see Mr. Smith in a Sixers uniform later this year.