Having already made their big splash in free agency by acquiring Klay Thompson, the Dallas Mavericks are looking at two former players as they attempt to fill out their depth for the 2024-25 season.
Per HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, the Mavs are considering bringing back either Spencer Dinwiddie or Dennis Smith Jr. with some of their remaining cap space.
Dinwiddie played a total of 76 games with the Mavericks across two seasons after being acquired in a midseason trade with the Washington Wizards in February 2022.
The 31-year-old had arguably the best stretch of his career playing alongside Luka Dončić. He averaged 17.1 points per game on 40.4 percent three-point shooting. Dallas traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in February 2023 as part of the Kyrie Irving deal.
Dinwiddie was dealt to the Toronto Raptors prior to the trade deadline last season. He finished the year with the Los Angeles Lakers after being waived by the Raptors. The 10-year veteran shot 38.9 percent from behind the arc and averaged 6.8 points per contest in 28 appearances for the Lakers.
Smith began his NBA career in Dallas after being selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2017 draft. He finished second on the team in scoring average (15.2) as a rookie, but was dealt to the New York Knicks midway through his second year as part of a three-team trade that brought Kristaps Porziņģis to the Mavs.
The North Carolina State alum has bounced around the league throughout his career. He’s never played more than 58 games with a single team since the Mavs traded him. His 56 games with the Nets last season were his most for one club since his Knicks tenure ended (58 games).
Smith has averaged 9.7 points and 4.2 assists per game in seven seasons.
Dallas is currently $2.6 million under the first apron and $13.4 million under the second apron. Teams in the first apron are unable to take in more money than they might send out in a trade and can’t sign a player waived during the season if his salary exceeds the mid-level exception.