Dennis Smith Jr. faces yet another NBA opportunity after his disappointment at Real Madrid

Dennis Smith Jr. is knocking on the NBA's door again. The former number 9 of the 2017 Draft has reached an agreement with the Miami Heat to join the training camp on an Exhibit 10 contract, although he will have to earn his spot on the roster. This move represents a new opportunity for a player who has not played an NBA game in over two years and who comes from a particularly notable stint in Europe.

The 28-year-old point guard does not have guaranteed presence on Miami's roster for the start of the season. The franchise has been monitoring him throughout the summer and knows his abilities well after he played last season for their G League team, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Now he will have to compete for a spot with Dru Smith, Tre Donaldson, and other players who aspire to be part of the exterior rotation.

Dennis Smith Jr., from number 9 in the Draft to a long journey

Smith arrived in the NBA with high expectations after being selected by Dallas as the ninth pick in the 2017 Draft. In his debut season, he averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 assists, and 3.8 rebounds, showcasing an explosive profile and the ability to generate plays from the point guard position.

However, his development gradually stalled. After Luka Doncic arrived in Dallas, he was included in the trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Mavericks and began a journey through the Knicks, Pistons, Trail Blazers, Hornets, and Nets.

In seven NBA seasons, he played 326 games, 152 of them as a starter, with averages of 9.7 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.2 rebounds. His main issue has always been shooting: he converted only 40.7% of his field goals and 29.8% of his three-point attempts.

The stint at Real Madrid that did not go as expected

Dennis Smith Jr.'s career also includes a particularly notable chapter: his brief time at Real Madrid.

The point guard decided to try his luck in Europe after being left out of the NBA, but that experience did not end up working out. His stay with the white team was very short, and he could not become a relevant piece of the team. He later returned to the United States to try to revive his career.

After that European adventure, Smith found consistency in the G League, playing 21 games last season with Sioux Falls, the franchise linked to Miami. There he averaged 8.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds, an experience that has allowed the Heat to directly evaluate his progress.

What can Dennis Smith Jr. bring to these Heat?

The opportunity comes in a Miami that is completely different from previous seasons. The Heat have added Giannis Antetokounmpo, Klay Thompson, Bobby Portis, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Nick Richards, making the competitive context much more demanding.

Smith does not seem to be arriving to be an important piece from day one, but he can offer experience, ball-handling ability, and creation for the second unit. His best version has always been related to his explosiveness, his capacity to attack the rim, and generate advantages with the ball.

Moreover, his NBA experience could be useful on a team that will need to manage a roster with high ambitions.

An opportunity that he will have to earn

The problem is that the competition for the spot will be significant. Davion Mitchell is the starting point guard, while Dru Smith and Tre Donaldson are also among the available options for Miami.

The Exhibit 10 contract allows the Heat to maintain flexibility: Smith can earn a spot on the roster or end up in Sioux Falls, with the chance to receive a bonus of up to $91,000 if he stays at least 60 days with the team.

Therefore, this is not yet a definitive return to the NBA. It is a trial. But after his disappointing experience at Real Madrid, his time in the G League, and more than two years away from an NBA game, Dennis Smith Jr. has an unexpected opportunity again. Now he must prove in Miami that he can still contribute at the NBA level.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Dennis Smith Jr, ante la enésima oportunidad NBA tras su despropósito en el Real Madrid