Mavericks unleash ultimate roster cheat code to lock down forgotten fan-favorite

Dallas Mavericks, Jason Kidd | Joshua Gateley/GettyImagesLast night, the Dallas Mavericks signed Dennis Smith Jr. to an Exhibit 9 deal to invite him to training camp, and this deal has a twist that Mavericks fans will love. Since Dallas' roster is already packed, and Smith Jr. likely won't make the 15-man roster, this deal allows them to secure his G League rights to keep him in the organization regardless of whether he makes the team or not.

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, this is one of the reasons that Dallas signed him, and he'll likely play for the Texas Legends next season if he doesn't make the Mavs' active roster. These types of deals are common in today's NBA, but landing Smith…