Dallas Mavericks agree to deal with Dennis Smith Jr., report says

The Dallas Mavericks are bringing back guard Dennis Smith Jr. on a one-year contract, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The move was confirmed minutes later by Smith’s agent Daniel Hazan, who posted on Instagram congratulating the player on his return to Dallas.

Smith was selected by the Mavericks out of North Carolina State with the 9th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He earned All-Rookie honors in 2017-2018, but played just a season and a half with the Mavs before he was dealt to the Knicks as part of the midseason trade that brought Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas. Smith worked out for the Knicks last week, according to a report by The New York Post.

The guard, 27, has since played for five different NBA teams, mostly off the bench. His last NBA action came in 2024 for the Brooklyn Nets. He last played professionally during a brief stint with European giants Real Madrid earlier this year.

Mavericks

The Mavericks have already reached the maximum amount of 15 standard contracts on their roster, so it’s likely Smith will compete for an opportunity to remain with the team. NBA teams can carry as many as 21 players on their roster during training camp, which Dallas has reached with the signing of Smith.

Fourth-year guard Brandon Williams is the only player on the roster with a non-guaranteed standard contract. His salary of $200,000 will increase to $850,000 if he is not waived by Opening Night on Oct. 21.

In 326 NBA games, Smith has career per game averages of 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Now, he’ll have a chance to compete for a place at Mavs training camp, which begins Sept. 30 on the campus of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

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