Report: Dennis Smith Jr to return to Dallas with a one-year contract

Dennis Smith Jr. is making his return to the Dallas Mavericks. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the Texas team has signed the former ninth overall pick of the 2017 Draft to a one-year contract. For Smith, it's a homecoming, as he began his NBA career in Dallas, spending his first season and a half there. During that time, he played 101 games, all as a starter, with averages of 14.5 points and 4.9 assists, before being traded to the New York Knicks in 2019 as part of the Kristaps Porziņģis trade.

Smith's contract is presumably partially guaranteed, which gives him the chance to earn a spot on the final roster if he proves himself during training camp. Before this signing, the Mavericks already had 15 players on standard contracts, including Brandon Williams, whose contract is only guaranteed for $200,000 until the first day of the season. After his departure from Dallas, Smith struggled to find stability, becoming a "nomadic player" from 2019 to 2024 and never playing more than 58 games in a single season. His return to Dallas therefore represents a new opportunity to revive his career. He also had a very brief stint in the EuroLeague with Real Madrid.