According to ESPN's Shams Charania on Thursday, the Dallas Mavericks have reached a one-year contract with free agent Dennis Smith Jr. For Smith Jr., this signing means returning to the starting point of his career.

Smith, 27, primarily plays point guard and was selected by the Mavericks with the ninth overall pick in the 2017 draft. He played for the Mavericks for a season and a half, appearing in 101 regular-season games and averaging 14.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, while shooting 40.9% from the field and 31.3% from three-point range.

In January 2019, Smith was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the New York Knicks. He subsequently played for the Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers, Charlotte Hornets, and Brooklyn Nets, and even had a brief stint with European powerhouse Real Madrid last season. Statistics show that Smith has played 326 games in his NBA career, averaging 9.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game, shooting 40.7% from the field and 29.8% from three-point range.

The Mavericks believe that Smith's arrival will alleviate the team's shortage of backup point guards. He will compete with Dante Exum, Brandon Williams and Jaden Hardy for playing time, while D'Angelo Russell and Cooper Flagg are expected to replace Kyrie Irving in the starting lineup.