One year to the day since he was acquired from Dallas in the Kristaps Porzingis blockbuster — and five days from the NBA trade deadline — Dennis Smith Jr. figures to be the starting point guard for the Knicks on Saturday in Indiana.
Of course, that would have more to do with starter Elfrid Payton’s one-game suspension for his role in a late-game fracas Wednesday night against Memphis at the Garden than it does with Smith’s play for the Knicks this season.
Interim coach Mike Miller didn’t divulge his lineup plans after practice Friday in Tarrytown, but 2017 first-round pick Frank Ntilikina also could be a candidate to start in Payton’s place.