One of the more exciting position battles for the New York Knicks this off-season will be at the point guard spot. The likely winner of the battle will be Dennis Smith Jr., but he sat out Saturday’s practice due to a lower strain back, according to SNY’s in Bagley.
The Knicks say Dennis Smith Jr (strained lower back), Kadeem Allen (strained right foot) and Amir Hinton (personal reasons) will not practice today at the team’s open practice.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 5, 2019
The injury to the point guard is no surprise, as he also dealt with something similar during the 2018-19 season, but he returned for the final few games. This issue will likely hold Smith out of Monday’s preseason opener against the Washington Wizards, with Veteran signing Elfrid Payton earning the start with Frank Ntilikina backing him up.
Smith Jr. is an extremely talented and athletic point guard, but injuries have derailed his career and held his development back at times. This is another reason that the Knicks will leave the spot open for interpretation and allow others to compete for the starting job.
Could Dennis Smith Jr.’s injury affect the New York Knicks starting lineup for the regular season?
Smith, who was brought over in the trade that sent Kristaps Porziņģis to the Dallas Mavericks last season, was the expected starter for the regular season this year. The injury certainly holds him back, but we shouldn’t rule him out as the starting option just yet. While the damage is something he has dealt with in the past, the timetable for his return has yet to be solidified.
Where does the remainder of the starting lineup stand?
With numerous veterans joining the team, the youth players won’t be given automatic starting positions the season. Marcus Morris projects to start over Kevin Knox, and Julius Randle will also steal minutes away from other players, potentially including RJ Barrett. However, starting Barrett would be in their best interest, considering he is the future of the team, and providing him with essential experience will help his development and progression.
Big man Mitchell Robinson will earn significant playing time right off the bat, mainly due to his potential and the optimism he provided last season on defense.