By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic looks ROY-bound in his maiden NBA season. averaging 20.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists over 32 minutes per game with the Dallas Mavericks. He’s the squad’s top contributor, go-to-guy down the stretch and, basically, the player who’s not only projected to be the future leader of the team but is already the face of the franchise.
His overall presence and role as the team’s main ball-handler, has caused Dennis Smith Jr.’s role to be diminished and that’s is one of the reasons why Mavericks are intensifying their efforts to trade their 2017 first-round pick, according to ESPN.
When the Mavericks landed Doncic via the trade with the Atlanta Hawks during the Draft night, Smith expressed his approval by tweeting “I’m a fan.” The two players started to build camaraderie off the court but their on-court cooperation has been far from optimal. Per ESPN, the Slovenian point forward’s pairing with Smith is less efficient than with other guards of the team such as veteran J.J. Barea or rookie Jalen Brunson.
As Adrian Wojnarowski and Tim MacMahon report, Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle and Smith aren’t exactly seeing eye to eye as well. Smith’s “decision-making” is among the things that have troubled Carlisle.
The Mavericks are currently 20 – 23. They face San Antonio Spurs Thursday (17/1).