With the Knicks falling back to eighth in next month’s NBA draft, dynamic if disappointing N.C. State point guard Dennis Smith Jr. has landed squarely in their crosshairs.
However, his college coach, Mark Gottfried, told The Post he doubts Smith will be there at No. 8. Gottfried touted Smith’s “Russell athleticism’’ and charged his guy has been undervalued in mock drafts, blamed too heavily for the Wolfpack’s anemic 15-17 season.
In fact, Gottfried said Smith should be in the same conversation as Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball, point guards expected to go first and second in the draft.