Mavericks unleash ultimate roster cheat code to lock down forgotten fan-favorite

Last night, the Dallas Mavericks signed Dennis Smith Jr. to an Exhibit 9 deal to invite him to training camp, and this deal has a twist that Mavericks fans will love. Since Dallas' roster is already packed, and Smith Jr. likely won't make the 15-man roster, this deal allows them to secure his G League rights to keep him in the organization regardless of whether he makes the team or not.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, this is one of the reasons that Dallas signed him, and he'll likely play for the Texas Legends next season if he doesn't make the Mavs' active roster. These types of deals are common in today's NBA, but landing Smith Jr. on a training camp contract is a steal considering how impactful he has become defensively over the years.

This was the perfect move for Dallas, as they won't lose him for nothing if he doesn't make the team, and it was a great decision by Smith Jr. as well. He'll get a few weeks during training camp to prove that he deserves a roster spot in Dallas, but if they don't want to cut someone to make room for him, he'll just play with the Legends (if a different NBA team doesn't pick him up).

Dennis Smith Jr. will likely remain in Dallas no matter what

This seemed like the most probable situation for Smith Jr. to be in, as he spent the entire 2024-25 season out of the NBA (played for Real Madrid for a short stint), and now he's back and ready to show that he still has the skills that he once did.

Mavericks fans will always remember Smith Jr. for his remarkable rookie season in the 2017-18 season when he averaged 15.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.0. steals per game. He was a walking highlight reel, always throwing down thunderous slams and getting the American Airlines Center on its feet, but his Mavs journey was cut short after they traded him to the New York Knicks as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade in 2019.

Smith Jr. then played for the Knicks for a few seasons before bouncing around the league and ultimately ending up out of the NBA after the 2023-24 season.

Mavericks fans have wanted Smith Jr. back for years, and Dallas has been interested in bringing him back for some time now. He worked out for Dallas and other teams, including the New York Knicks, this summer, and the team that drafted him with the No. 9 overall pick was the one that brought him back to have another chance to give the Mavericks some magic.

Smith Jr.'s playstyle has changed significantly since Mavericks fans last saw him play in blue and white, as he is now a defense-first guard who is elite at the point of attack. He really took on this role of being a ferocious pest on the perimeter during his stints in Brooklyn and Charlotte, and the Mavericks could end up bringing him on their 15-man roster if they believe that his defense would raise their ceiling.

With this new opportunity in Dallas, Smith Jr. can go all-out on trying to beat out someone like Brandon Williams to earn a spot on the team, but even if he doesn't, he'll be back in the G League or on a different NBA team by the time that the regular season begins. A strong G League performance could lead to Smith Jr. getting picked up by Dallas during the middle of the season or a different team, and the 2025-26 season will be a pivotal year for him, regardless of where he ends up by the end of it.