The Nets made Dennis Smith Jr. their first free agent addition of the summer.
After re-signing Cam Johnson, trading Joe Harris and losing Seth Curry and Yuta Watanabe, Brooklyn added Smith on a one-year deal, likely a veteran minimum contract.
The Athletic reported the news of the signing and that the Nets made Smith a priority in free agency as their first call.
The 25-year-old Smith Jr. will fill a position of need for the Nets.
Spencer Dinwiddie is the starting point guard, but they are in desperate need of a backup and more shot creation ever since trading away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Ben Simmons’ health is in question, Curry left for Dallas in free agency, and they didn’t tender David Duke Jr. a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Smith Jr. averaged 8.8 points 4.8 assists in 25.7 minutes over 54 games last season in Charlotte, including 15 starts.
He averaged 8.3 points in 58 games over parts of three seasons with the Knicks.
The 6-foot-2, 205-poundrer’s shooting is spotty at best – just 21.6 percent from behind the arc – but he’s a slasher who can attack to the basket, which could help in shot creation when Dinwiddie is off the floor.
While Brooklyn is remaking the roster, sources have told The Post that Dinwiddie isn’t among the players they’ve shown any interest in moving.
Smith provides a capable backup point guard when Dinwiddie sits.
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