Knicks eye stunning reunion with high flier that will brutally sting Mavericks fans

The New York Knicks are set to work out former Dallas Mavericks point guard Dennis Smith Jr. this week, according to the New York Post's Stefan Bondy, and if this workout goes well, they could end up signing him. This is definitely a stunning development, especially considering how sour the end of his time with the Knicks went back in 2021, and he could be back in the NBA in no time.

Mavericks fans have been begging for the team to bring back Smith Jr. ever since he was traded to the Knicks as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade, and the Mavs were among the teams that worked out Smith Jr. earlier this summer. He is a completely different player from the young guard who won over Mavericks fans' hearts with his energy and unbelievable dunks in 2017, and the Knicks could end up with a steal if they sign him to a deal before training camp begins.

Smith Jr. at least deserves a shot with a team, as he has the athleticism and defense to make an impact off the bench, and that's all Mavericks fans have been hoping for over the last few years.

Dennis Smith Jr. could join Jalen Brunson in New York

Dallas has shown interest in signing Smith Jr. to a deal multiple times, including earlier this summer, but they've ultimately never opted to turn this interest into a reality by cementing a reunion. His attendance at a Mavericks game at the end of last season got fans buzzing, as the team needed depth badly amid one of the craziest injury stretches that the organization has ever seen, but they never ended up signing him.

He has been out of the NBA since the end of the 2023-24 season, and he spent a short time playing for Real Madrid of the EuroLeague this year, and the Knicks could be the perfect team to bring him in. Smith Jr. spent multiple seasons with New York before being traded to the Detroit Pistons, and his game has potentially evolved enough to give him a role in their rotation when injuries happen.

The Knicks are led by Jalen Brunson, a point guard who isn't known for his defense, and Smith Jr. could be a solid option to come off the bench when they need some perimeter defense or physicality. His defense burst onto the scene during his time with the Charlotte Hornets in the 2022-23 season, and he hasn't slowed down since.

Smith Jr. has embraced the role of being a defensive pest and disruptor, and that might just be what gets him back in the league. His ability to play extremely tight on-ball defense while playing with toughness despite being 6-foot-2 can't be undermined, and he'd be a great change of speed when the Knicks need some defense in small spurts.

Mavericks fans may never get their wish of seeing Smith Jr. return to Dallas one day, and having him join Brunson, another former hyped Mavericks prodigy, in New York may sting a bit. Both Brunson and Smith Jr. were drafted by Dallas in back-to-back years, and seeing them team up on one of the powerhouses of the Eastern Conference over six years later would be a bittersweet moment that Mavs fans dreamed would happen in Dallas.