Big Red Louie
Fansided

Louisville basketball: 3 NBA teams who should sign Russ Smith

By Jacob Lane

BEIJING, CHINA - NOVEMBER 14: Russ Smith ££2 of Fujian SBS in action during the 2017/2018 CBA League match between Beijing Beikong Fly Dragons and Fujian SBS at Beijing Olympic Sports Center on November 14, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Photo by XIN LI/Getty Images)
BEIJING, CHINA - NOVEMBER 14: Russ Smith ££2 of Fujian SBS in action during the 2017/2018 CBA League match between Beijing Beikong Fly Dragons and Fujian SBS at Beijing Olympic Sports Center on November 14, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Photo by XIN LI/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
DALLAS, TX – JUNE 09: A general view of the opening tip-off between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 9, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX – JUNE 09: A general view of the opening tip-off between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat in Game Five of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Center on June 9, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Chambers/Getty Images) /

Dallas Mavericks

Rick Carlisle, the long-time head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, has always had a knack for finding a way to make small guards work in an NBA that usually has favored bigger players at the position.

DJ Augustin, JJ Barea, Seth Curry, and Jason Terry are all under 6’1, yet have averaged double-figures at some point in their careers. With Curry hitting free agency and Barea aging and dealing with injuries, a guy like Russ Smith could easily slide into the point guard role and provide playmaking.

While scoring has always been Russdiculous’ best basketball characteristic, his ability to set others up around him and make everyone better on the court have constantly been overlooked while he’s always provided lockdown defense on the other end.

After hearing from NBA front offices that he wasn’t a good enough point guard, the former Louisville star went to the G League and over to the highest levels in China and showed just the opposite.

In 25 games for the Delaware Blue Jackets, Smith held a 2.07 assist/turnover rating, had a 33.2 percent assist percentage (percentage of possessions assisted), and 11.9 turnover ratio (lowest of his professional career) while also scoring effectively (47.7 effective field goal percentage and 53.5 true shooting percentage) and seeing high usage.

The Mavericks have targeted former G League standouts before and I believe because of those things Smith would be a great fit on a team that could be moving their way into contention behind Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.

Home/Louisville Cardinals alumni