The Portland Trail Blazers recently signed former top-10 pick Dennis Smith Jr. to a training camp deal. This is far from a guaranteed roster spot, but more so an extended tryout for the athletic, but troubled guard.
Free agent guard Dennis Smith Jr., has signed a deal to attend training camp with the Portland Trail Blazers, sources tell ESPN. Smith played 23 games between Detroit and New York last season.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 2, 2021
It’s clear that the Blazers needs another playmaker on their roster, as Damian Lillard is the only one fully capable of serving as a primary ballhandler. CJ McCollum and Norman Powell have the ball skills to handle the rock, but neither of them is a natural floor general.
This leaves a glaring hole, specifically on Portland’s bench as none of the currently signed reserves can serve as an optimal table setter for their second unit scorers. Bringing in DSJ to see what he can offer is a smart move for the Blazers as they might be mining a diamond in the rough. If Smith Jr. can recover some of the skills that made him a lottery pick to begin with, Portland could be landing a young backup guard with plenty of potential.
Dennis Smith Jr. could become a valuable flier for the Portland Trail Blazers
Dennis Smith Jr. won’t have to show much to earn a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers as the team still has two open roster spots for the upcoming 2021-2022 season. He’s extremely unlikely to command more than his veteran minimum, which also happens to be all that Portland can offer.
Signing him to their training camp is a no-risk move, but taking the next step and adding him to the roster couldn’t hurt either. If DSJ even shows a glimpse of promise, he’s worth taking a chance on as an additional young gamble for the team.
Here’s how he can help the team if he earns a minimum deal.