The new season s big test! The competition dialogue between the Dallas bench!

According to reporter Shams,

free agent Dennis Smith and the Mavericks signed a one-year contract to return to Dallas. He will be in training camp in Dallas for a chance to play in the new season.

For many fans, seeing Dennis Smith return to the Dallas Mavericks is undoubtedly a long-lost dream come true. The one-year training camp contract means Smith Jr. must perform well enough in the preseason to win a regular season spot.

And behind this decision, it also means that the Mavericks may have to face a lineup trade-off:

Brandon Williams, the 25-year-old defender who was loved by fans last season, is likely to be affected by this.

Recalling Brandon Williams' Mavericks journey, he joined the team with a two-way contract in the 2021-22 season, and then gradually gained a foothold in the rotation. Last season, he gradually got the chance to play due to the team's injury wave. He played 33 games in the season, only started 3 games, averaged 14.8 minutes per game, and his personal data was 8.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists. His three shooting percentages were 52.1%, 40%, and 83.3% respectively.

Unlike the temporary replacement of the injured player, Brandon Williams grew rapidly in just a few months and gradually entered the ranks of the league's best substitute guards. During March, Kyrie Irving, who was injured in the bench, averaged 16.6 points, 4.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game. In the final stage of the season, he continued his efficient performance, scoring 17 points against the Kings, helping the team advance to the last round of the play-offs.

But with Smith Jr.'s return, Brandon Williams' future also begins to cloud.

For the Mavericks in the new season, they urgently need to improve their defensive intensity outside of offense, and Smith Jr. has always been a defensive back at the league's excellent level in his career. Even though he left the league for a while, his defensive value is still worthy of attention.

The only problem is the offensive stability and shooting shortcomings. When he played for the Nets, his three-point shooting percentage was only 29.4%, which is why he had to go to the overseas league to seek opportunities.

It is obvious that if Smith Jr. enters training camp, he will almost be able to lock in a place on the Dallas 15-man roster, but this decision also sends a signal to Brandonway and other defenders on the team that his role may not be stable.

The uncertainty in the future is particularly obvious for Brandon Williams, especially. As the only player on the Mavericks' 15-man active roster to not have a guaranteed contract. Last season, he won a playoff rotation spot with his stable performance, but in the new season, if the Mavericks want to free up their salary space to sign Smith Jr., he is the most likely person to fall victim.

Of course, even so, Brandon Williams' potential is still worth paying attention to. He has become one of the most reliable offensive firepower points on the Mavericks' bench, and the upcoming training camp will be a key window for him to prove himself. If he can maintain the high level of last season, or even exceed expectations, Smith Jr.'s arrival may not necessarily affect his team status.

On the contrary, if Brandon Williams ends up being mediocre and Smith Jr. can recover, he naturally may lose his stable rotation position before the start of the new season.

From the Mavericks' perspective, signing Smith Jr. is a double-edged sword:

On the one hand, Smith Jr.'s joining did strengthen the team's defense and improve overall competitiveness; but on the other hand, Brandon Williams' storyline is likely to be forced to press the pause button because of this. For the 25-year-old young defender, it is both a pressure and an opportunity. The training camp has not yet started. For Brandon Williams and Smith Jr., whether they can break the upper limit in the new season will directly determine the direction of the Mavericks' substitute backcourt.

This is also the signal that the team has clearly conveyed: as long as they perform well enough, they can maintain their future rotation position.