Leon

Smith

The 6-10 Smith was with the Sonics for the final week of last season, playing four minutes and totaling two points. He played for the Sonics’ summer-league team, but only participated in the first day of training camp.

The troubled former first-round pick is just 24, so he deserves another chance. Isiah Thomas might be the one to give it to him.

“We looked at him and had a chance to talk to him,” president Isiah Thomas said after working out Smith yesterday. Thomas added that he thought Smith still might have a future with the team. “Later on down the road, we’ll revisit it, but probably not in the next couple of days.”

“I’m looking at a lot of players,” Thomas said, adding that Smith’s tryout “was very good but just because I look at the guy, we’re not committed to signing him. I looked at him. I liked him,” Thomas said. “He’s a unique talent.” The Knicks can’t move on Smith today because the John Amaechi buyout is still not finalized and he has to first clear waivers, which takes 48 hours.

Other camp invitees include Tommy Smith, last summer’s second-round pick who played last season for Split, Croatia, and Jemeil Rich, a point guard the Bulls scouted in the CBA before signing Jannero Pargo. The best players from the minicamp could receive training camp invitations.

Smith was taking part in the camp for free agents in an effort to win a spot on the training camp roster. That’s not going to happen now.

Smith is leading the CBA in rebounds (12.2) and blocked shots (1.8).

Smith had been playing in the CBA with the Great Lakes Storm, where he averaged 13.7 points and 9.8 rebounds in 19 games this season. He’ll be used as a reserve power forward.

Smith had no fantasy value anyway.