Rumors: Mavericks show interest in signing fan-favorite lockdown defender

Noah Weber

Dennis Smith Jr. / Steven Ryan/GettyImages

Seemingly every Dallas Mavericks fan on the planet is wondering what they're going to do with their final roster spot, and there have been plenty of rumors linking them to various players on the market.

While it seems like the Mavs are going to re-sign Markieff Morris, they have also been linked to a couple of guards. Dallas is looking for more backcourt depth at this point in free agency, and they've been linked to several players who would make a difference right away.

Dallas has been linked to Spencer Dinwiddie, and fans would love for him to return, but the most recent rumor about the Mavs links them to a different fan-favorite guard.

Mavericks interested in signing Dennis Smith Jr.

According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Mavs have shown interest in signing Dennis Smith Jr., who most recently played for the Brooklyn Nets. Smith Jr. began his career with Dallas back in 2017, and he'd be an excellent fit on the Mavs.

Last season for the 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. This was a career-high for Smith Jr. in field goal percentage, and he would thrive if the Mavs decide to bring him back.

While Smith Jr. isn't the same offensive player Mavs fans saw during his rookie year, he is now known for his lockdown defense on the perimeter. Smith Jr. is one of the best guard defenders in the NBA, and he would become the best guard defender on the team right away.

The Mavs need more point-of-attack defense, and Smith Jr. would give them someone who takes pride in guarding elite players and locking them down. Offensively, Smith Jr. is a willing passer and solid finisher around the bucket.

He often turns steals on one end into dunks on the other, and although the numbers don't show it, he's also not a bad 3-point shooter. 29.4 percent from three isn't excellent, but he definitely still lets it fly with confidence and shot 34.5 percent from downtown during March last season while shooting 2.2 attempts per game.

Smith Jr. is the guard that seemingly every Mavs fan wants, and he'd be the perfect backup point guard for them.

For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks all free agency long, stay tuned.

Noah Weber

Noah Weber is the Site Expert for The Smoking Cuban, covering the Dallas Mavericks as a credentialed media member since the 2022-23 season. With a Bachelor of Science in Sports Media from Oklahoma State University, Noah has worked in sports journalism since 2019. While he's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys, he has now established himself as a go-to voice for Mavericks coverage. Noah's expertise includes in-depth game analysis, social media content creation, and offering unique perspectives through his reporting. His work has been featured on major platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Overtime. During his time at Oklahoma State, Noah won first place in the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards for a show he co-produced. Outside of covering the Mavs, Noah enjoys working out, playing basketball and Spikeball, and spending quality time with friends and family.