Mavericks Sign Dennis Smith Jr. to Bolster Point Guard Depth Amid Irving Injury

NBA Trade Rumors: Mavericks Sign Dennis Smith Jr. to Bolster Point Guard Depth Amid Irving Injury

The Dallas Mavericks are adding veteran guard Dennis Smith Jr. on a one-year deal, ESPN’s Shams Charania reports.

Smith, 27, was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by Dallas but played parts of just two seasons with the team, averaging 14.5 points and 4.9 assists over 101 games. Since then, he has had stints with the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets, and Brooklyn Nets, and briefly played overseas for Spain’s Real Madrid last season.

Over his NBA career, Smith has averaged 9.7 points and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 40.7% from the field and 29.8% from three-point range. After a strong rookie campaign of 15.2 points and 5.2 assists per game, his production steadily declined with each subsequent team. In 2023-24, he appeared in 56 games for the Nets, averaging just 6.6 points in 18.9 minutes per game.

Dallas will be without Kyrie Irving for part of the 2025-26 season as he recovers from a torn ACL, making depth at the point guard position essential. Rookie Cooper Flagg is expected to serve as the de facto playmaker, while D’Angelo Russell will step into Irving’s starting role.

Veterans Dante Exum, Brandon Williams, and Jaden Hardy will also compete for bench minutes, meaning Smith will likely serve as a deep reserve. Nonetheless, his addition gives the Mavericks another option at a position that was a major concern heading into the offseason.