Washington Wizards: Three free agent fits after the 2023 Draft

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 13: Dennis Smith Jr. #8 of the Charlotte Hornets celebrates as he walks off the court during the fourth period of a basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks at Spectrum Center on February 13, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) /

Dennis Smith Jr.

The 6’2 guard out of NC State may not have lived up to the expectations that came with being drafted 9th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, but Dennis Smith Jr turned himself into one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.

Smith Jr, who spent last season with the Charlotte Hornets after bouncing around the league for a few years, became a lockdown defender who was utilized on the opposing team’s best player regularly.

Smith Jr is certainly a limited scorer whose jump shot completely abandoned him over the years, but he can still playmaker and create shots for his teammates, demonstrated by his average of 4.8 assists per game last season.

He will not solve the Wizards’ shooting or spacing problems, but he will be a monster on the defensive end, fitting next to Jordan Poole perfectly. He will take on the tough assignments defensively while Poole can conserve his energy for scoring and playmaking on the other end. A young, rebuilding team can always use a defensive tone-setter like Smith Jr, who can lead by example to bring up the energy level.

Smith Jr is also only 25 years old. He has good size and athleticism for a point guard. If he can fix his shot, he could be a very valuable trade asset for the Wizards going forward as well. Even if not, he is still worth targeting, as he is not likely to warrant a big long-term contract.

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