Dennis Smith Jr. Eyes Lakers, Heat, Spurs Contract; Former 1st-Round NBA Draft Pick

Point guard Dennis Smith Jr. revealed the list of teams that he believes he'd be able to immediately contribute on.

"Everybody can use a dawg," Smith said during an appearance on The OGs Show (h/t Matt Peralta of Lakers Nation). "I be thinking the Spurs, you know, because they in the mix right now. I think the Spurs, Minnesota, Miami, obviously… You don't even know all the work I've been putting in the summer, but if we went just off what I was doing last year, like, I think I could come in and make a real contribution, or the Lakers, too. The Lakers as well."

Smith appeared in 56 games with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2023-24 season but isn't currently on an NBA roster. The Dallas Mavericks were reportedly interested in him in July, although he ultimately wasn't signed.

The 27-year-old was acquired off waivers by the Wisconsin Herd, the G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, on Friday.

Smith was originally selected by the Mavericks with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He showcased his athletic finishing ability at the rim, averaging 15.2 points per game in his first season and was named to the 2018 All-Rookie Second Team.

Smith struggled to make a similar impact following a trade to the New York Knicks in his second season, playing for three more teams before spending his 2023-24 campaign in Brooklyn.

Last year, he averaged 6.6 points and 3.6 assists in 18.9 minutes per game on 43.5/29.4/74.1 shooting splits. His defense has improved as of late, recording 1.3 steals each night since the start of the 2021-22 season.

For teams with postseason aspirations such as the Lakers and Spurs, Smith could be an intriguing option if neither team is able to add a rotation piece prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.