How will Dennis Smith Jr. and Rookie Luka Doncic work together in the Dallas Mavericks backcourt? That’s the big question coach Rick Carlisle will have to answer next season. However, both the coach and Smith have no concerns and believe that the mix will be right.
“I’m not worried about it at all,” Carlisle told Eddie Sefko of Dallas Morning News. It is therefore very likely that the two youngsters will appear next to each other for the time being.
Alternatively, Carlisle would have J.J. Barea and Devin Harris, two more experienced guards at their disposal, but they are more likely to lead the second guard of the Mavs. Barea and Harris shared many minutes with Smith last season, which is said to have helped the young point guard, as he himself admitted.
“I made progress at the end of the season when I played off the ball,” Smith said. “My game has improved considerably.” Since Doncic also likes to hold the spalding in his hand, both youngsters will have to learn to share the same ball. Smith believes that this will work well. “I think we can both play well with and off the ball.”
The Mavs had their fifth pick in the 2018 draft and traded up to get Doncic. Dallas had to give the Atlanta Hawks a first-round pick for next year. Dallas then moved to position five Trae Young, who was immediately sent to the Hawks.