Metta Sandiford-Artest calls Nets guard Dennis Smith Jr. an elite defender

Dennis deserves the praise

Dennis has always been a talented player because he was a highly-touted prospect since he was a youngster. He possessed unreal athleticism that helped him have one of the best highlight reels of any player. When DSJ entered the league, he initially did not meet the hype. That rough patch hampered his reputation and made him an overlooked talent.

As a result, Smith bounced from team to team, not finding a permanent team to play for. The former NC State guard was superb when playing for the Charlotte Hornets, enough to get recruited by Nets star Mikal Bridges. Dennis took the opportunity and is now one of the league’s most valuable backup guards.

Dennis will get a heftier contract soon

DSJ only signed a one-year contract with the Nets, which makes him a free agent in the 2024 offseason. Plenty of teams will look to sign him because he brings superb value as a backup point guard. He is an elite defender on the same level as Alex Caruso and Jrue Holiday on a cheaper contract.

Thankfully for Nets general manager Sean Marks, the team organization has Smith’s Bird rights. That allows Brooklyn to pay Dennis more than any team in the league. By all accounts, the 26-year-old guard loves playing in Brooklyn, which could be the organization he calls home in the long term.

However, teams noticing his elite defense will give him options, a luxury he did not have earlier in his career when he was desperate for a team to sign him.