Guard Dennis Smith Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal to return to the Dallas Mavericks, agent Daniel Hazan of Hazan Sports Management told ESPN.
Smith reunites with the franchise that selected him with the No. 9 pick in the 2017 NBA draft, and now he'll compete in training camp in Dallas. The Mavericks have a full roster currently, although guard Brandon Williams is on a partially guaranteed contract.
Smith spent his first 1 1/2 seasons with the Mavericks, averaging a career high 15.2 points in his first season while being named to the 2017-18 All-Rookie Team.
In January 2019, he was traded to the New York Knicks as part of the deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas. The high-flyer played for the Knicks from February 2019 to February 2021, and was moved to the Detroit Pistons in a trade that brought Derrick Rose back to New York.
Smith played for three different teams (Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets) in three consecutive seasons — the most recent coming in 2023-24, when he ranked second in steals per 36 minutes among NBA players to play 1,000 minutes.
He spent the 2024-25 season with Real Madrid in the Euroleague.
Smith, 27, has averaged 9.7 points, 4.2 assists and 3 rebounds in 326 games over seven NBA seasons.
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