When Smith faced the Knicks recently, it brought back memories of New York?s interest in him in the draft at No. 8, which became a talking point for LeBron James in November.
Smith had scheduled a workout and meeting with the Knicks in early June, had dinner with then-president Phil Jackson and other team officials, and arrived at the team?s facility the next morning. Smith was prepared for a full workout, and yet Jackson requested something that surprised him: a physical exam, league sources said. Smith elected to pass, and the sides called off the workout and further discussions.
?The Knicks were forcing me to do a couple things that were already established that I wasn?t going to do,? Smith told Yahoo Sports. ?I was uncomfortable with them. I felt comfortable here in Dallas. They did a good job making me feel like I was already a player here. People think that I just dipped out of the Knicks workout because I didn?t want the Knicks to take me, but no.
?It wasn?t over that ? but they kept insisting on the physical. I knew it would be a no go.?
Still, one day before the draft, the Knicks came calling, wondering if Smith ? who was already in town to be in the draft green room ? could undergo a last-second workout. For Smith and those around him, the preference had already been set: Dallas. So Smith declined again with New York, and the Knicks selected Frank Ntilikina, who has shown promise as a developing two-way point guard.
