The Mavericks just brought back a familiar face, and his name is Dennis Smith Jr. The same Dennis who once dunked his way into the rookie spotlight in Dallas is now circling back to the franchise that drafted him ninth overall in 2017. But the catch is, the Mavericks don’t exactly have a chair waiting for him at the table. With a full roster, the reunion comes with only one inevitable question. Who has to leave for Dennis to stay?

Smith’s one-year deal, reported by Shams Charania, is technically a training camp contract. That means nothing is guaranteed, but everything is at stake. The 27-year-old point guard isn’t just here to collect a jersey. He’s here to fight for a spot. And in Dallas, where roster construction has tilted toward defense under GM Nico Harrison, his calling card, point-of-attack defense, is suddenly more valuable than it used to be. Back in 2017, Smith looked like Dallas’ answer for the post-Dirk era.

He averaged 15.2 points as a rookie, earned All-Rookie Team honors, and showcased the athleticism that made him a YouTube dunk reel before he was even draft-eligible. But less than two years later, he was out. Smith became the key piece sent to New York in the Kristaps Porzingis blockbuster trade. What followed was time with the Knicks, Pistons, Blazers, Hornets, and Nets. Then, a pivot to Europe with Real Madrid for the 2024-25 season. Now he’s back. Older and wiser, but also less shiny.

His career averages of 9.7 points, 4.2 assists, and 3 rebounds over 326 games speak to a player who’s carved out survival, not stardom. His shot has betrayed him (25.1% from three over the past three NBA seasons), but his defense has quietly built a reputation. Among players who logged 1,000 minutes in 2023-24, Smith ranked second in steals per 36 minutes. That’s not nothing, right? That ought to be disruptive. So what’s standing in his way?

A man named Brandon Williams. The 25-year-old guard is on a partially guaranteed deal, meaning the Mavericks can waive him without eating salary-cap consequences. Williams, though, isn’t exactly expendable. He’s an efficient three-level scorer, and Dallas saw it down the stretch last season when he strung together convincing performances. If Dallas is worried about shot creation and floor spacing, Williams is the safer bet. But if they want a guard who can hassle Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or chase Ja Morant around screens?

That’s where Dennis has the edge. Caleb Martin is arguably Dallas’ best bet for that assignment right now, but his health has been unreliable, most recently with his right hip strain in January, and his offensive contributions have been streaky. Smith’s profile as a defender could plug that hole if he proves it in camp. But the Mavs don’t have room right now.

Dallas remains without an open roster spot at the moment. Bringing Dennis back means someone else has to walk. The backcourt is already packed with Kyrie Irving, D’Angelo Russell, Jaden Hardy, and Dante Exum, while Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, Klay Thompson, Cooper Flagg, and more anchor the frontcourt. Hardy just secured a three-year, $18 million extension, tightening the squeeze even more. All signs point to Grant Williams as the likeliest odd man out.

How Dennis Smith Jr. could affect the Dallas Mavericks

But cutting Williams would mean choosing defense over offense. Smith brings disruptive steals and athleticism that still pop. Williams brings shot-making and some untapped upside at 25, though he averaged just 8.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists on 52.1% shooting last season. In a vacuum, Williams fits better with the offense. But the playoffs aren’t played in a vacuum.

They’re played against players who have something to prove. Guards who test every defensive seam. That is why Dallas even bothered making the move. Smith may not survive camp, but he’ll force the Mavs to confront the question of whether offense is still king in Dallas, or does the team finally prioritize defense to complement the roster’s brilliance? Smith, for his part, has been here before.

His career has been a cycle of proving himself, losing a spot, and fighting back into rotations. In Portland, he flashed as a defensive pest. In Charlotte, he earned minutes in crunch time with his perimeter defense. And in Brooklyn, he looked like a low-risk signing that gave the Nets an edge on defense. Each stop gave him credibility as a specialist. Now, it comes down to timing. The Mavs need answers heading into the season, especially on the defensive end.

Hardy’s contract makes him untouchable in a camp battle. Williams, though, could be a casualty if Smith convinces Dallas that his defensive presence matters more than Williams’ offensive spark. There’s also the possibility that this is less about Dallas and more about the league at large. A strong showing in camp could put Smith back on radars elsewhere.

Teams hunting for depth at the guard spot will take notice if he looks sharp. But Dallas has skin in the game, too. With no Luka Doncic safety net anymore and the West crawling with elite backcourts, every roster move becomes a test of how the Mavs plan to survive on the margins. At its core, though, this is a gamble.

Smith may only be a camp body, a nostalgic nod to the past, who gets cut before October. Or he could be the unexpected fit who earns a permanent deal by outworking Williams. Either way, the Mavs’ decision will speak volumes about what they value more: buckets or stops.

For Dennis Smith Jr., it is one more chance to stay in the league and one more fight to prove he belongs. For the Mavs, it’s a test of priorities. And for Brandon Williams? It’s a reminder that training camp is the actual survival season.