When the Dallas Mavericks signed former fan-favorite guard Dennis Smith Jr., every fan knew it would be an uphill battle for him to fight for one of Dallas' roster spots. Not only did the Mavericks have every spot filled on their 15-man roster, but Brandon Williams would have been the only realistic candidate to be on the chopping block, and due to the Mavericks' need for shooters, Williams was never truly going to be waived.
For Smith Jr., this was his first shot at competing for a roster spot in the NBA in over an entire season after his last stint with the Brooklyn Nets.