Sixers Draft Watch: Dennis Smith Jr. Is a Stud, But Not The Right Fit

By George Kondoleon | Feb 15, 2017

Jan 17, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) dribbles the ball during the first half against the Pitt Panthers at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2017 draft class is touted as one of the most talented of the decade, and the Sixers are in prime position to secure a top five pick.

The Sixers have built there core through the draft. They’ve been a prime player in the best player available theory, with a goal of both finding a star and collecting coveted assets. It’s what gave the team their building block in Joel Embiid, and what pushed the team to take the underwhelming Jahlil Okafor.

The strategy is often debated, with drafting for fit being its counterpart. It seems the days of needing to draft for the best player available is far behind the state of the current Sixers roster. The team has secured Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid has looked like the star the organization has been searching for.

Going into this upcoming draft, the team is still in search for a promising guard. What makes their task more intricate is the fact that they’re looking for a secondary ball-handler that can complement the game of Simmons. A guard that can defend, hit the perimeter shot, and play off the ball.

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A top guard that has been mentioned in the top five all season has been N.C. State’s Dennis Smith Jr. Smith is a stocky guard, with an almost unmatched quickness with the ball. His body type and style of play drew comparisons to Russell Westbrook. While not the elite high-flyer Westbrook was, the intensity Smith shows mimics that of the one of the NBA’s top point guards.

Defensively, Smith’s quickness allows him to stay in front of ball handlers, and he closes out on shots quickly. He keeps a low center of gravity, using his strength to contest drives to the rim. This would bode well for the Sixers. Simmons, who has the potential to be a decent NBA perimeter defender, will have trouble taking on guards in certain match-ups. Smith can take on tougher match-ups on most nights.

His intensity is shown on both sides of the floor, and his ability to keep the intensity high during the entire length of the game is an intangible that can propel him to stardom. His quickness with the ball is what allows him to be successful.

While favoring the right-side of the basket, Smith shows the ability to get to the rim from anywhere on the floor. He uses a deadly, yet ever so slight, hesitation move that allows him to blow by defenders. He can finish fairly well with both hands, but seems more comfortable with his right hand.

Smith uses his speed well in transition, and knows when to pull back or when to attack. He’s a smart passer, a skill often overlooked when talking about the promising guard. He has a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio, and the passes he makes are at times eye-popping. He understands the feel of the floor and leads teammates perfectly to easy opportunities. Adding another top-flight passer would open up the offense even more the Sixers, whose current offense flows through center Joel Embiid.

He’s a dangerous shooter from the outside, shooting 38.3% from beyond the arc. He tends to shoot contested threes, but seems to hit them at will. His shot selection isn’t bad, oddly enough. The contested threes come quickly, and his shot release is quick and pure. This allows him to pull off what may seem like bad shots.

What’s worrisome about his fit next to Simmons is his lack of off-ball movement. Smith rarely makes meaningful cuts to the basket without the ball, a sign of how dependent the Wolfpack are on his ability to control the floor. Occasionally he curls around screens on the left wing, but they rarely lead to open catch and shoot opportunities.

That aspect of the game could be dependent on the offensive scheme of N.C. State, but it is an important one to assess when talking about the Sixers. It also relates to the most obvious issues. Both Smith and Simmons’ skills are maximized when the ball is in their hands. Smith sets the pace of the offense and works best with the ball in his hands. He constantly finds open passing lanes, and is deadly when attacking the rim.

Simmons’ main asset is essentially acting as a 6’10 point guard. His strength over powers smaller defenders, while his quickness makes him a tough match-ups for those who match him in size. His elite passing ability can only be maximized with the ball in his hands. Smith and Simmons are both too ball dominant to mesh. Their games clash more than complement, and the Sixers must start building around players, instead of collecting a mismatch of talents.

The best available player method may swing teams towards Dennis Smith Jr. As it should. He’s got the potential to be a special guard in this league for a team in need of a floor general. The Sixers, on the other hand, can attack their needs with other guards who can produce effectively without the ball.

Asset maximization is now the focus, rather than the previous asset accumulation spree the Sixers were on. The best way to maximize Simmons, who is one of the most important assets to this team, is to fit an effective shooter who can work off the ball. You diminish his ability, and the ability of Smith’s, by pairing him next to a promising asset with a similar skill set.

It sounds cliché, but Smith has star potential, just not with the Sixers. These are the beautiful intricacies of the draft. Where you have to decide on what you could have, and what you already have. The timeline of the Sixers is shifting towards one of building a cohesive core, and unfortunately Smith does not fit the molds of what the team could build.

Next: Colangelo Over-Estimating Market For Okafor?

This draft could be one that’s telling of the strategy of Bryan Colangelo. Thus far, his philosophy isn’t as clear as prior general manager Sam Hinkie’s was. If he’s wanting to move the process forward, he’ll take a chance on a player that fits easily next to Simmons.