Mavericks 2017 NBA redraft: Where was Dennis Smith Jr. taken?

The Dallas Mavericks drafted Dennis Smith Jr. ninth overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. He fell in the FanSided redraft, but how far? Find out here.

Dallas Mavericks fans know a lot has changed since 2017. Dirk Nowitzki retired ending a legendary 21-year run with the Mavs. The organization moved up to draft Luka Doncic and traded for Kristaps Porzingis to put them back in contention. The Mavericks have experienced a lot of roster turnover. It has been an eventful couple of years.

The Mavericks drafted Dennis Smith Jr. ninth overall in 2017. They immediately installed him as their starting point guard and focal point of their rebuild. It was an up and down rookie season. Smith Jr. averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists but shot 39.5 percent from the field.

Following that season, the Mavs acquired Luka. He immediately made his mark. Both players were best with the ball in their hands forcing the front office to explore the trade market. They ultimately pulled the trigger on a deal to acquire Porzingis from the Knicks. Smith Jr. has struggled during his time in New York.

2017 redraft

FanSided put together a redraft of the 2017 class. Fans can see the entire article here.

The Dallas Mavericks pivoted and took Luke Kennard with the ninth overall pick. The current Pistons wing gives them an elite 3-point shooter and capable secondary creator. Dennis Smith Jr. was still on the board at the pick. I made the case that Dallas would draft DSJ again if they knew it meant getting Luka Doncic.

Smith Jr. dropped all the way to 25th overall. He was taken by the Orlando Magic. They have been searching for a franchise point guard for years.

DSJ has struggled, but it is difficult to write him off. He is 22 years old with tremendous athleticism. Improvements need to be made in his shooting and decision-making to be a starting point guard, but there is still time. It will be interesting to see how he develops over the next few years.

The Dallas Mavericks were on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs when the season was suspended. The future is bright. Fans should be excited. The best is yet to come in Dallas.