NBA: Ranking all 30 starting point guards for 2018-19

Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
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20. Dennis Smith Jr., Dallas Mavericks

Honestly, this might not be high enough for Dennis Smith Jr., who already showed flashes of being more than a high-octane dunker and microwave scorer as a rookie.

With an influx of talent in the form of an ideal pick-and-roll partner (DeAndre Jordan) and an ideal backcourt complement (Luka Doncic), DSJ will be put in positions to succeed under Rick Carlisle.

In his first NBA season, Smith posted 15.2 points, 5.2 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game. Though he only shot 39.5 percent from the field and 31.3 percent from 3-point range, those numbers should improve with time for the 20-year-old. The Dallas Mavericks probably won’t be a playoff team, but they should be better than the bottom-feeder they were last year.