Three ways Luka Doncic will make life easier for Dennis Smith Jr.

The Dallas Mavericks begin their journey for the 2018-2019 regular season in less than six weeks. Preseason tips off in only three weeks. Dallas aims to improve vastly from a 24-win season and made an effort to improve its roster accordingly through offseason additions such as DeAndre Jordan and Luka Doncic.

Jordan will serve primarily as a defensive prescence and rebounding specialist, he’s posted career averages of 10.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, respectively.

Dallas added another dynamic playmaker in Luka Doncic to its backcourt to pair alongside last year’s first round pick, Dennis Smith Jr.

Here are three ways Doncic will make life easier for Smith Jr. this upcoming season.

1. A New Lob City?

Smith Jr. is a talented individual and his most impressive basketball-related skill set is easily his freakish athleticism. Doncic averaged 6.6 assists per 36 minutes and is a willing playmaker who excels at exploiting or creating passing lanes.

Take Smith Jr.’s athleticism, blend it with Doncic’s creativity and we could likely see the introduction of relocation papers for the “Lob City” trademark, particularly once Jordan becomes acclimated as well.

#DimeAlert featuring #Mavs rookie @luka7doncic
Now imagine @Dennis1SmithJr on the finishing end 🤔@Dallas_Fanatic @Michael_Lark @r_wilson_21 @klaykuban @Rkonkle_mffl @TheMrDouglass @TaimonT717 @DSWalk40 @ForgottenMavs @Trevor_Rathbun pic.twitter.com/kqSVLYsHWJ

— Mike DuPont II (@MikeDuPont_) August 30, 2018

2. Walk That Walk

Doncic has conducted dribbling exhibitions throughout Europe, demonstrating above-average ball handling abilities.

#DimeAlert from #Mavs rookie @luka7doncic@Dallas_Fanatic @TheMulf @Michael_Lark @ForgottenMavs @Rkonkle_mffl @TaimonT717 @DSWalk40 pic.twitter.com/2RRYAeM9vi

— Mike DuPont II (@MikeDuPont_) August 28, 2018

With another talented ball handler in the backcourt and a year of on-court experience under his belt, it is not farfetched to anticipate a drop in Smith Jr.’s turnovers per game (2.8 spanning 69 games last season).

3. On My Screens

Doncic thrives in the pick-and-roll and will have a host of assist opportunities between Jordan rolling to the rim and Nowitzki leaking to the corner.

Time for your morning #DimeALERT
See ya soon @luka7doncic! @Dallas_Fanatic @TheMulf @Michael_Lark @r_wilson_21 @Rkonkle_mffl @TaimonT717 @TheMrDouglass pic.twitter.com/RkwisPT59b

— Mike DuPont II (@MikeDuPont_) August 24, 2018

He generated 1.119 points per possession last season derived from pick-and-roll opportunities, ranking 31st out of more than 1,600 international players who tallied at least 100 possessions in the pick-and-roll according to Mavs.com writer Bobby Karalla and Synergy Sports. Doncic ranked fourth out of 163 players with at least 500 possessions.