Dallas Mavericks: Let’s Say Thanks to the New York Knicks

The NBA Summer League is all wrapped up now and the Dallas Mavericks had a great showing. The main bright spot, Dennis Smith Jr., is already looking like a potential star in the league, and Dallas can either thank their lucky stars, or just the New York Knicks.

When the NBA Draft finally came around, the draft order had been set for months, and yet, it still seemed like anything could happen. The Boston Celtics had traded away the 1st overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers, and trades were rumored to keep on coming.

With the Dallas Mavericks sitting at the #9 spot, it was a real mystery who might be there when the clock started. Players rising and falling in draft stock everyday seemed to make things entirely a “wait-and-see” game. Dallas was projected to end up with players like Malik Monk, Jonathan Isaac, Frank Ntilikina and, of course, Dennis Smith Jr.

BROOKLYN, NY – JUNE 22: Frank Ntilikina of the New York Knicks talks to the media after being selected eighth overall at the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Pellegrino/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Obviously Dallas ended up landing the stud freshman from NC State and the rest is history, but the way the Mavs ended up getting him really was something amazing. If you ask me, it all started with the Boston Celtics and the trading of the first overall pick.

Although the 2017 NBA Draft was full of questions and a different mock draft everyday, there was little belief that the first two picks would not be Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball, in that order. After that, in no particular order, Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum, De’Aaron Fox, Jonathan Isaac, and Dennis Smith Jr. were the next tier of players expected to go. Lauri Markkanen, Malik Monk, and Frank Ntilikina were the remaining players expected to go in the top 10.

Dallas Mavericks

When Boston traded the first pick, it gave the draft an entirely different dynamic. With Boston and LA expected to take the top 2 point guards in the draft, the next best rated players appeared to be forwards, something the Sixers did not need. This trade led the Celtics to a wing at the #3 spot, allowing De’Aaron Fox to fall. Phoenix had also been seriously considering Fox with the 4th pick, but when they saw Josh Jackson, they had to jump on it.

This allowed Fox to fall all the way to the Sacramento Kings at #5 which was followed up by the Magic finding themselves lucky with Jonathan Isaac at the 6th overall spot, someone they had their eye on from the beginning. The 7th overall pick was when it got really crazy.

After the Chicago Bulls made the blockbuster trade of the offseason sending Jimmy Butler to Minnesota, they drafted Lauri Markkanen, who’s draft stock had been dropping almost daily. Seeing Markkanen go before #9 was big for Dallas because that meant two of the other top-10 projected players would still be available when it was time to pick. Frank Ntilikina, Dennis Smith Jr., and Malik Monk were still there.

GREENBURG, NY – JULY 17: New York Knicks team President, Steve Mills and Jeff Hornacek of the New York Knicks introduce General Manager Scott Perry at a pess conference at the at Knicks Practice Center July 17, 2017 in Greenburg, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The competition between the New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks over French point guard, Frank Ntilikina is kind of comical still to this day. Although the 18-year old had as much upside as anybody in the draft, there was no guarantee that he would amount to anything. Meanwhile, Smith Jr. just happened to be potentially the most athletic player in the draft and had a much higher ceiling than Ntilikina.

The decision must have seemed difficult at the time, because New York chose wrong. Very wrong.

Dallas now has the opportunity to say thank you to New York and the Knicks organization. As much as we would love to see Ntilikina pan out, it is just hard to believe that he was drafted before a guy like Dennis Smith. Dallas now has a star in the making and we wouldn’t be as lucky as we feel today if it weren’t for the Knicks.

Next: Dallas Mavericks: There is No Backup Plan After Noel

As a Mavs fan, I just want to say, thank you Boston for trading the #1 pick, thank you Chicago and Minnesota for the Jimmy Butler trade, but a special thank you to New York for not taking Dennis Smith Jr. from us.