Former Mavericks First Round Pick Returns to the Team In Free Agency

Last season, Dennis Smith Jr. was unable to find a role in the NBA again, with little interest in him as a free agent, leading some to believe his career may be over. However, in recent weeks, there has been some speculation that the former first-round pick could return to the league, with interest shown from the New York Knicks.

Now, it's been made official, as Smith is set to reunite with one of his former teams, but not the Knicks in this case, as he is officially signing a free agency deal with the Dallas Mavericks.

Back in 2017, the Mavericks used the No. 9 overall pick on the bouncy young guard, and now, eight years later, he's reunited with the team as a free agent. With Kyrie Irving injured, Smith Jr. can compete for the backup spot behind D'Angelo Russell, as he can still be a very effective player at his best.

In his last season in 2023–24, Smith Jr. averaged 7 points and 4 assists with the Nets in 18 minutes per game, and still being just 27 years of age, if he can get back to his best, he can still be a good contributor at the NBA level on a great Mavs team. When Irving returns, there's a good chance that DSJ will struggle to get much playing time in Dallas, but given the fact that they need depth heading into the season, he's a fantastic acquisition at a relatively cheap price for a team with high hopes in 2025–26.