10 Players the Milwaukee Bucks should invite to training camp
By Dalton Sell
Dennis Smith Jr.
Like the aforementioned Lonnie Walker IV, it's shocking that Dennis Smith Jr., his teammate with the Brooklyn Nets this past season, remains unsigned with camp right around the corner.
The point guard put up respectable numbers in Brooklyn last season, averaging 6.6 points, 3.6 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game, but the best thing he put on tape was his defensive intensity. The guard's impact was noticeable on that end often as he picked up opposing guards and hounded them, which helped Smith average 1.2 steals per game.
In addition to being a strong defender, Smith is also an electric athlete. A good chunk of his highlights stem from gravity-defying dunks. Whenever he forces one of those previously mentioned steals, the guard runs out in transition and provides a needed boost of energy. There's no doubt that the Bucks could use a spark in transition, given how lackadaisical they were in that regard last year.
Smith, a 29.8 percent career 3-point shooter, won't do much for Milwaukee's floor spacing, but his defense, athleticism and facilitating could make him a worthwhile pickup. It'd be a bit surprising if he inked a camp deal over a standard contract with someone in the coming weeks, but crazier things have happened in the NBA.