29. Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks
Ranking rookies is tough, and rookie point guards typically struggle their first year. I’m as strong a Dennis Smith supporter as you’ll find, but it might take him a while to find his groove with an interesting offensive setup in Dallas.
As a ball-dominant playmaker at N.C. State, sharing the court with an isolation specialist like Harrison Barnes will be an adjustment for Smith. He’s also an iffy defender who struggled with decision making offensively, something Rick Carlisle will need to work through under the guise of a rebuilding season.
Nonetheless, he’s an insane athlete who’s more than capable of scoring in droves when his shot is falling. Combine that with his potential in the pick-and-roll, and Smith should round into one of the better talents from this year’s class in time.