The Trail Blazers Have Waived A Former Top-10 Pick

The Portland Trail Blazers have waived point guard Dennis Smith Jr. The former first-round pick has also played for the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons.

The Portland Trail Blazers have waived Dennis Smith Jr. and the former ninth overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks will now be a free agent.   

Thank you, @Dennis1SmithJr. Wishing you the best ❤️ pic.twitter.com/18dtTpRuFk

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 21, 2022

Smith Jr. is averaging 5.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game this season. 

He is currently out with an elbow injury (see tweet below from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, who first reported that Smith Jr. had been waived).  

ESPN Sources: The Portland Trail Blazers are signing two-way rookie forward Trendon Watford to a new four-year, $5.8M deal that’ll include two non-guaranteed seasons. Blazers are also waiving guard Dennis Smith Jr., who is out several weeks with an elbow injury.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 21, 2022

After starting out his career with the Mavs, he was then traded to the New York Knicks, and from the Knicks he was traded to the Detroit Pistons. 

Coming out of college he had been touted as a top prospect, but injuries have kept him from reaching his potential. 

During his rookie season he averaged 15.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game for the Mavs.  

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