NBA Rumors: LA Lakers Almost Landed Dennis Smith Jr From Dallas

One of the most mentioned NBA players in recent weeks is Dennis Smith Jr. of the Dallas Mavericks. Although both sides managed to patch things up, most are wondering if the Mavs ever did field offers from other teams for the 21-year-old guard.

According to the Athletic, the Mavericks indeed did just that to several teams. Among the teams mentioned are the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic. Of the three NBA teams, the Lakers loomed as a plausible destination as they also had some players who seem to be on the way out.

The Knicks and Magic are also in rebuild mode. Of course, getting Smith into the fold could have been one of their building blocks for the future. But if Smith wanted to play for an NBA team that had a chance to make the postseason wars, the Lakers would have been it.

As mentioned in a previous post, Smith would have been the solution to the point guard woes of the Lakers. Lonzo Ball is expected to miss up to six more weeks, while Rajon Rondo is reportedly returning when Los Angeles faces the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Skimming the free agent market for a low-cost guard was an option, but it is something the Lakers were reportedly trying to avoid. An option was to dangle some players for younger legs. One name that comes to mind is Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, someone who has voiced his displeasure about his role with the team, Lonzo Wire reported.

If the trade with the Mavericks had fallen through, he would have more likely been included, plus maybe a future pick. As part of the deal, Wesley Matthews would have been inserted as well. But as most know by now, Smith and the Mavericks have reconciled and all those plans are now in the past.

With the February NBA trade deadline approaching, there is still a possibility that Smith Jr. could be traded. Although he and Luka Doncic give head coach Rick Carlisle one of the deadliest backcourts in the NBA today, being offered a player who could fit in with the Mavs system could alter the course.

The waters may be calm now, but the possibility of hearing Smith’s name in the grapevine may still be high. That all depends on how things go for the Mavericks from here.