5 Predictions for Dennis Smith Jr.’s Rookie Season

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TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 11: Dennis Smith Jr. #1 of the Dallas Mavericks poses for a portrait during the 2017 NBA rookie photo shoot on August 11, 2017 at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility in Tarrytown, 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 Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

5.) Dennis Smith Jr. Will Win Rookie of the Year

At his introductory press conference in Dallas, I asked Smith Jr. point-blank if he thought winning the Rookie of the Year award was a reasonable goal.

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His response, “I believe so.”

And I believe him.

In my opinion, it will be a three-headed race for Rookie of the Year between Ball, Fultz and Smith Jr.

The only issues I have with the other two is that I am not sure Ball will score enough to win the award and I’m unsure of Fultz’s all around stats with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid dominating touches also.

Smith Jr. has less hypothetical mouths to feed, in a bigger role and has the all around offensive game to score with anyone in the draft class. He comes into Dallas where he will get the reigns of the team.

Mavs fans were predicting him to win the award before Summer League, and now it seems as if the rest of the league is starting to jump on board.

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If Smith Jr. fulfills all of the predictions above, it should provide entertainment for a Mavericks team that isn’t fighting for a championship.