The New York Knicks are hosting free agent guard Dennis Smith Jr. for a workout, according to The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy. Smith, 27, last played in Spain with Real Madrid before parting ways with the team in February. Approaching five years since his last stint in New York, he is attempting an NBA comeback.
Smith first arrived with the Knicks in January 2019 as part of the trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks. Over three seasons with New York, he appeared in 58 games before being dealt to the Detroit Pistons ahead of the 2021 trade deadline in exchange for Derrick Rose.
New York has limited roster and salary cap flexibility after signing veterans Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon. The Knicks currently have 12 players on guaranteed contracts and are also working out free agent frontcourt players Alex Len and Trey Jemison III. In addition, they are carrying nonguaranteed deals with Brogdon, Shamet, and Garrison Mathews. NBA teams can bring up to 21 players into training camp, but the Knicks’ cap space allows them to keep only one more veteran player for the regular season. Around the league, there is anticipation that the Knicks will make a trade to free up space to keep two of them.
- The New York Knicks are hosting Dennis Smith Jr., a 27-year-old former lottery pick, for a workout as he eyes an NBA comeback.
- Smith has played for Dallas, New York, Detroit, Portland, Charlotte, Brooklyn, and, most recently, Real Madrid, averaging 9.7 points in 326 NBA games.
- The Knicks, with limited roster spots and cap space, are weighing Smith alongside other veterans as they prepare for training camp.
Early Career and Time in New York
Dennis Smith Jr. entered the NBA in 2017 as the ninth overall pick in the first round of the NBA Draft out of NC State. In his rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks, he started 69 games and averaged 15.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 29.7 minutes per game. He shot just under 40 percent from the field and finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting.
In his second season, Smith played 32 games with Dallas before being traded to New York. Along with Smith, the Knicks received De’Andre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, and multiple first-round picks.
Smith’s first run with the Knicks was the most stable stretch of his career. He played 21 games during the 2018–2019 season. In 2019–2020, he appeared in 34 games but did not receive consistent playing time. By his third season, he appeared in just three games, averaging nine minutes per outing.
Smith’s time in New York included setbacks both on and off the court. He was booed by a Madison Square Garden crowd that preferred backup guard Frank Ntilikina. Soon after, his stepmother unexpectedly passed away, and he also dealt with a slipped disc in his back. In 2020, he was out of Tom Thibodeau’s rotation and requested to play in the G-League before being traded to the Detroit Pistons for Derrick Rose.
Later, while with the Charlotte Hornets, Smith looked back on that period, saying, “A lot of that stuff beyond my control. Fans’ reaction. Stepmom passed. Slipped disc in my back. Just random s–t that I can’t control. Only thing that matters to me is how I react to it. Bounce back, take the punches and keep rolling. S–t it got me where I’m at right now so I’m thankful for it all.”
Journeyman Path Through the NBA and Europe
After his stint with the Pistons, Smith played for the Portland Trail Blazers. He then signed with the Charlotte Hornets, appearing in 54 games. He later returned to New York City with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2023–2024 NBA season, where he played in 56 games, including two starts. With Brooklyn, he averaged 6.6 points on 43.5 percent shooting, with 3.6 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 18.9 minutes.
In total, Smith has appeared in 326 NBA games with 152 starts. His career averages are 9.7 points on 40.7 percent shooting, 29.8 percent from three-point range, 4.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 23.3 minutes. He has never played in the playoffs.
In 2024, Smith signed with Real Madrid of Liga ACB and the EuroLeague. He parted ways with the team in February, essentially giving him a year off from competitive basketball.
Betting Market Outlook on the Knicks
The Knicks’ current roster and recent moves have drawn attention from sportsbooks. As of mid-September, odds for New York to win the 2025–2026 NBA championship range from +750 at BetMGM to +900 at FanDuel and DraftKings, with ESPN BET listing them at +800.
In the Atlantic Division, ESPN BET has the Knicks favored at -300, while FanDuel lists them at +310 to win the Eastern Conference. The team’s regular-season win total opened at 52.5 games on DraftKings in July and later adjusted to 53.5 on BetMGM in August.
