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Atlanta Hawks: Former lottery pick Dennis Smith Jr could be worth a look

By Joshua Buckhalter

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 03: Dennis Smith Jr. #10 of the Portland Trail Blazers works towards the basket against Skylar Mays #4 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter at Moda Center on January 03, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. 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. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 03: Dennis Smith Jr. #10 of the Portland Trail Blazers works towards the basket against Skylar Mays #4 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second quarter at Moda Center on January 03, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. 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. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Hawks (28-30) could turn to a former lottery pick to help tighten up their oft-porous perimeter defense down the stretch. Dennis Smith Jr, the ninth overall pick in 2017 by the Dallas Mavericks was recently waived by the Portland Trail Blazers. Smith was averaging 5.6 points, 3.6 assists, and 2.4 rebounds in a little over 17 minutes per contest.

He shot just 41.8 percent from the floor and 22.2 percent from beyond the arc

Portland was Smith’s fourth team as he has bounced around quite a bit since being drafted ahead of names like Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, and the Hawks own John Collins who went 19th in that same draft.

Smith’s offensive shortcomings aside, he has shown capable of being an asset on the other end of the floor and that could serve the Hawks purposes well.

Dennis Smith Jr could be worth a flier for his ability to pick opponents’ pockets

The Blazers waived Smith after converting rookie forward Trendon Watford’s two-way contract into a fully guaranteed one. Watford is averaging 4.5 points, 3.2 boards, and 1.1 assists in his first season while shooting 59.0 percent from the floor. He went undrafted this last cycle after two seasons in the Bayou.

Smith maxed out statistically in his rookie season averaging 15.2 points with 5.2 boards and 3.8 assists. But he was a poor shooter even then with a .395/.313/.694 slash line. The following season his raw numbers dropped but his efficiency increased en route to 13.6 points per.

Still, a .402/.312/.652 career line isn’t screaming ‘must-have’ for anyone let alone a guard.

He also isn’t shutting down pick-and-roll ball handlers like Jevon Carter who is joining the Milwaukee Bucks along with De’Andre Bembry; two former potential Hawks targets.

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But Smith’s 1.2 steals this year was good for third on the team behind Justise Winslow and Robert Covington who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. It would stand as the second-highest mark on the Hawks this season behind only 10-day fill-in, Malcolm Hill. Trae Young is highest among the rotation players at 1.0 takeaways per game this season.

Smith Jr has 12 games with multiple steals, just one behind Young.

He does still show flashes of the talent that made him a lottery pick. In his final game with the Blazers he had just seven points but 11 assists against the Los Angeles Lakers. And, in four starts, he’s put up 15.8 points with 6.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds.

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His efficiency still hasn’t been there but, again, any offense he gives would be gravy on top of the added peskiness for a Hawks defense that is in a four-way tie for the second-fewest steals per game in the NBA.

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