The struggle between Dennis Smith Jr. and Rick Carlisle continues, though the Mavericks still hold hope that they can reconcile the situation. Smith is reportedly unhappy with his in-season role change and the push for appears to be coming from DSJ’s camp.
The Mavs want the former No. 9 overall pick, who hasn’t played in over a week because of back issues and an “illness,” to return to the court on their terms but it’s not as if the team is making DSJ sit in the corner on every play. Carlisle has attempted to call specific plays with the intent of getting Smith in rhythm and the combo guard would break off the play and improvise, a scout tells Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Both sides are clearly frustrated. Luka Doncic has certainly outshined Smith and there isn’t room for both of them to be the primary play-maker. As we wait to see if a resolution occurs, let’s take a look at more notes from Dallas:
- Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com examines what the market would look like for Smith. Pelton believes a high lottery pick would be too much to give up for a point guard with years of progress to go before becoming a top player.
- Doncic has been a more effective scorer this season when spending more time off the ball and next to Smith, Pelton explains in the same piece. Doncic has a higher true shooting percentage in those situations and with Carlisle’s propensity to play multiple point guards at the same time, concerns about the two fitting together may be overblown. Pelton argues that if the Mavericks trade Smith and use the Doncic-Smith fit as a scapegoat, it could in fact simply be a cover for a decision that the Mavericks would have made regardless of how the two meshed.
- In the same piece, Pelton takes a look at all the former top-10 picks since 2012 that have switched teams before the end of their second season. Outside of Buddy Hield in Sacramento, it’s easy to argue that no team was thrilled with the production it received when trading for a former top-10 pick. Thomas Robinson, Anthony Bennett, Nik Stauskas, Noah Vonleh, and Kris Dunn conclude the list.
Sixers fans were ecstatic when we traded for Stauskas. Fleecing the Kings. But then the NBA forced the Coleangelo clowns on the franchise and he traded that asset for Markelle Fultz. Never knew I’d rather have Nik Stauskas over a former No 1 overall pick not named Bennett.
Frank nitikina for Dennis Smith Jr
No
Ntilikina-Hardaway-19′ 1st for DSJ-Barnes-19′ 2nd- 21′ 1st
All picks unprotected
Magic: Evan Fournier, jonathon Simmons, future first round pick
Dallas: Wes Mathews , Dennis Smith
I highly doubt they going to get a 1st round pick back in a deal that includes Wesley Matthews.
Magic make sense b/c they are PG hungry. But I don’t see them overpaying in a trade, when it’s more plausible they come away with one of Rozier, Russell, Brogdon, Rubio, or Bledsoe. Or positioning themselves to trade-up for Ja Morant.
I can see them parting ways with Isaac in a deal w/DSJ and taking on Matthew’s – Augustin, Simmons & Isaac.
I’ve seen reports about ‘blockbusters’ involving Aaron Gordon and Bamba, which is laughable.
Magic are fighting for a playoff spot so I doubt they will be in position to get morant. They’re going to be in rebuild mode after this season and the only PG that makes sense is rozier. Only problem is Phoenix Is a better organization and has a better young core.
Depends on what goes down the next 21 days. But they are slotted 7th-8th pick overall right now. I think they cash in on Vucevic and Ross and focus on the draft tbh.
Phoenix is a joke of an organization, but yes their pieces are better.
Any of the FA PGs I listed would make sense. The core is Bamba, Gordon, Isaac, Fournier, add any of those PGs and the team does push for back end of the playoffs. Unless Isaac becomes something this team will only be looking at 6-7-8th seeds. They would need to pull off a trade for a premium wing player, which I dont see happening. As much as you and I may like DSJ, he isnt a premium wing. He is an average PG when compared to the rest of the PGs in this league.
Come on Dallas, last year you were thrilled to have this guy. Now you suddenly want him to be someone else. Your bad, yours to fix, and if Doncic gets hurt you are going to be pissed that you did this.
I don’t think this is squarely on the organization. With DSJ mysteriously MIA for a week and saying he welcomes finding another situation. Listening to offers and actively shopping a player are two different things. Honestly we may never know the whole truth but Dallas is hardly trying to ride him out of town. Even if they wanted to trade him, he has seriously hurt his own image now and the the Mavs would have to sell low. Theres no way that happens now. If anything I see Carlisle getting fired for mishandling his young stars.
Pelton sounds like he read @DXC.