NBA Trade Rumors: Will the Mavs shop Dennis Smith Jr.?

NBA Trade Rumors: According to a recent report, there’s an expectation that the Dallas Mavericks will move Dennis Smith Jr

The Dallas Mavericks hit a home run during the 2018 NBA Draft by selecting arguably the best player in the pool. Or, at the very least, it looks that way. Luka Doncic, the team’s third overall pick, has been as good as advertised. If not better.

Through the first third of the 2018-19 season, Doncic is 19 points, seven rebound and five assists on 43 percent shooting from the field and 36 percent from 3-point range. For the majority of the season, Doncic has been the best rookie of this year’s class.

He’s been so good that it has led the Mavs to rethink their approach when it comes to Dennis Smith Jr. Even though it would make sense for Dallas to move forward with DSJ and Doncic, as the team’s first two building blocks in a new era of Mavs basketball, it appears that the team is, at the very least, sniffing out what could be out there for DSJ.

DSJ hasn’t been bad by any stretch of the imagination. In his second season, DSJ has seen a dip in his overall production, but he’s been more efficient. He’s averaging 13 points (two off of last season’s pace), three rebounds and four assists on 44 percent from the field and 35 percent from 3-point range.

It’s somewhat confusing as to why the Mavs would trade him, although it doesn’t really hurt to test the market on their former top 10 pick. Perhaps Dallas is interested in moving up in this year’s draft, which is a lot deeper than last year’s.

Whatever may be the case, we know that the Dallas Mavericks are in good hands moving forward. At the very least, the Dallas Mavericks know they have one really good player – and building block – in Luka Doncic.