LAS VEGAS — Dennis Smith Jr. saw this summer as the right one to undergo a transformation on his jumper.



Those working with him this summer have said it’s drastic. Smith, too.



“It’s a big difference,” he said. “It’s a really big difference. I can feel it. Everybody can see it, from my pops and my friends. Adding that to my game and getting consistent, I think that’s going to open up the floor, not only for me but for everybody else and make my reads a lot easier. It’s major for me.”



Smith believes his work has gotten his shot to a consistent motion, and he will need the changes to stick. He’s hit just 31.6 percent of his 3s over his first two years in the NBA. Of the 150 players in the league last year to take at least 200 pull-up jumpers, Smith’s 35 percent shooting ranked 131st.



A reliable jump shot could help Smith unleash his potential. The No. 9 pick in the 2017 draft has...