New York Knicks: Ranking the young core by trade value

5. Dennis Smith Jr.

Dennis Smith Jr. was the first Dallas Mavericks rookie to notch a triple-double since Jason Kidd in 1995. He was supposed to be the future at point guard for the Mavs, but the plan changed when Dallas drafted Luka Doncic, and the Knicks made Kristaps Porzingis available.

Smith is the only player remaining from the Porzingis trade, so trading him for next to nothing is less than ideal. But the former No. 8 pick’s value has plummeted this season.

Elfrid Payton beat Smith out for the starting point guard job, and despite David Fizdale’s best efforts, Frank Ntilikina secured the backup spot. Smith’s dramatic regression has been painful to watch. He’s not the same player he was a season ago.

Smith averaged double-digit points and started all but three of his games in his first two seasons in the league. This season, he’s started just three of his 34 games and is scoring only 5.5 points per game. Smith is also ranked 91st out of 93 point guards in ESPN’s real plus-minus.

But it’s not only the numbers.

The confidence Smith possessed when he dropped 19 points and 13 assists on the San Antonio Spurs in a win at the Garden isn’t there anymore. His body language is awful, and sometimes he doesn’t even look like an NBA player.

But the Knicks can still dangle that he was a former lottery pick to some team. There will be at least one team that thinks they can unlock whatever potential Smith has.

Smith’s been through a lot this season with the death of his stepmother. A change of scenery to a reportedly interested team like the small-market Orlando Magic or Minnesota Timberwolves seems like the best moves for both sides.