First it was Luka Doncic... now NBA teams eye another Real Madrid talent

The season in the Endesa League isn’t over yet—the playoffs are underway, and Real Madrid is the only team left that can prevent a clean sweep by claiming the Spanish title for the second year in a row. It’s been a turbulent campaign for the Merengue club, and this final shot at silverware reflects that instability.

Several veterans departed, and attempts to replace them—like signing Rathan-Mayes—didn’t go as planned. To address shortcomings and a string of injuries, the club brought in two midseason reinforcements between January and February: Bruno Fernando, who remains in the mix, and Dennis Smith Jr.; the latter turned out to be a flop.

Smith lasted just one month and twelve days in Madrid. Ironically, his physical condition—the very thing he was expected to improve for Chus Mateo’s squad—was his undoing. A mix of lingering inactivity and recurring injuries made it nearly impossible for him to contribute meaningfully.

He set a historic record—but for the wrong reasons: just 35 total minutes played and an unremarkable stint with the club. He left quietly, through the back door. The official explanation—intended to preserve the North Carolina guard’s public image—was that he struggled to adapt to the European game and needed to return to the U.S. to find another opportunity. At 27, Smith tried post-transfer deadline to catch on with a team—but no calls came.

Now, he’s battling his own physical limitations. In hindsight, Madrid’s decision to sign him is widely viewed as a risky gamble. He hadn’t played in nearly a year, and this was his first time leaving the United States. But after months of rehab and hard work, there’s finally a glimmer of hope.

Two NBA teams are showing interest in giving Smith a shot. The first is the Dallas Mavericks. In recent days, he’s been spotted training alongside Klay Thompson, the Mavs’ shooting guard, to prepare for a possible tryout. According to Jimmy Crowther via Substack, next week is the likely window for that audition. Dallas isn’t alone—Keith Pompey, a reporter tied to the Philadelphia 76ers, says the Sixers have also hosted Smith for similar private workouts.

Smith’s expectations are modest: a minimum contract, even if non-guaranteed, or a chance to showcase himself in summer league or preseason. He just wants back in the NBA rotation.

Dallas, meanwhile, is on the hunt for backcourt talent. With Kyrie Irving likely to miss the entire next season due to a torn ACL in his left knee, the team is scrambling to reinforce its guard depth.

Dallas also happens to be where Smith began his NBA journey. Drafted ninth overall by the Mavericks in 2017, he formed a strong personal bond—if not always an on-court one—with Luka Dončić when the Slovenian star arrived a year later. In January 2019, Smith was traded to the Knicks—a path Jalen Brunson would follow three years later—and thus began a nomadic stretch through multiple teams and challenges.

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Philadelphia presents a different scenario. The Sixers are building around Tyrese Maxey, their lead ball-handler, and MVP center Joel Embiid. Still, there’s room for additions. Another former Real Madrid player, Guerschon Yabusele, recently earned a similar trial run through private workouts—an opening Dennis Smith Jr. is hoping to replicate.

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