10 Free agents the Dallas Mavericks should sign to fill final roster spot

8. Dennis Smith Jr.

Dallas Mavericks fans fell in love with Dennis Smith Jr. during his rookie year with the team during the 2017-18 season. Smith Jr. was a high flyer and a dynamic scorer for that Mavs team, and he looked like he was going to form into a star in Dallas.

In the following draft, Dallas selected Luka Doncic and they now had an excellent backcourt duo with Doncic and Smith Jr. The two became two friends during their time together in Dallas, but unfortunately, it came to an end quickly.

Dallas traded Smith Jr. to the New York Knicks as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade back in 2018, and he has bounced around the league ever since. Despite Smith Jr. never finding a permanent home in the NBA and playing for several different teams, his improved defense over the last couple of years has turned him into an attractive target for the Mavs in free agency.

Last season for the Brooklyn Nets, Smith Jr. averaged 6.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from downtown. Smith Jr. isn't the offensive player he once was, but his defense at the point of attack is excellent. The Mavs need another point-of-attack defender, and Smith Jr. would be that and more.

If signed by the Mavs, Smith Jr. would guard the other team's best guard whenever he was in the game, and he may just be Dallas' missing piece to winning the title again next year.