One of the Dallas Mavericks' main priorities is clearly adding guard depth, as they will be without Kyrie Irving for at least the first half of the regular season due to him tearing his ACL, and some names are emerging as potential targets via free agency and the trade market.
Dallas' rumored trade targets include Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday, with their most notable free agency target being Chris Paul. While Paul remains the most prolific target Dallas has been linked to in free agency, they have also shown a level of interest in bringing back Dennis Smith Jr., according to multiple reports.
Smith Jr. will work out for the Mavericks next week, and depending on how the workout goes, he could end up being someone Dallas targets in free agency to give them more backcourt bodies off the bench.
Mavericks plan to bring in Dennis Smith Jr. for a workout
While Smith Jr. wouldn't fully address the Mavs' Irving dilemma on his own, he would bring outstanding defense to the second unit, as he is one of the most underrated guard defenders in the NBA. His time in Dallas also can't go overlooked, as he spent a season and a half with the Mavericks before they traded him during his second season, and Mavs fans would welcome him back with open arms.
While Smith Jr. has not morphed into the player it looked like he was going to be after his rookie year, he can still provide great minutes off the bench and provide the Mavs with someone who can push the pace and guard some of the best backcourt players in the NBA.
In his most recent season in the NBA (2023-24 season), Smith Jr. averaged 6.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from downtown. His shooting struggles have held him back from being the offensive monster fans expected when he came out of North Carolina State, but his defensive prowess and athleticism could and should make him a staple back in the NBA if a team decides to take a chance on him.
That team could end up being the Mavericks, as they have multiple guards who are free agents, including Dante Exum and Spencer Dinwiddie, and Smith Jr. would give Dallas a unique skill set in a guard that they don't currently have. As the entire world knows, Nico Harrison loves defense, and Smith Jr. would immediately become one of the strongest defenders on the team.
His high motor, lateral quickness, and toughness make him someone that opponents hate to see match up against them, and with the Mavs prioritizing defense so much, he'd fit right in.
With Dallas likely only having veteran minimum contracts to hand out, Smith Jr. could be an ideal candidate for them to bring off the end of their bench. The Mavericks are desperate for more guards who can contribute, and a reunion for Smith Jr. would likely be something that both sides welcome if the fit is right.
It's undeniable that the Mavericks have shown interest in Smith Jr. in the past year or so, and the interest was mutual. Speculation among Mavs fans picked up when Smith Jr. was spotted at the American Airlines Center for a game towards the end of last season, and this chatter is only poised to pick up over the next few weeks as free agency will start in less than a month.
