Dallas Mavericks: 5 goals for Dennis Smith Jr.’s rookie season

4. Average five assists per game

While at NC State, Dennis Smith Jr. was adept at knifing into the heart of the defense and making simple, direct passes to open teammates. In the Dallas Mavericks’ spaced-out offensive attack under head coach Rick Carlisle, there will be plenty of easy passes available.

The easiest will be working in the pick-and-pop with future Hall of Fame forward Dirk Nowitzki. Point guards much less talented than Smith have made a career out of running actions with the sharpshooting big, feeding him for jumpers all across the court.

More difficult will be the next level of passing, and that’s an area where Smith will need to show he can grow. When teams slide a third defender to the nail to cut off his drive, can he make a pass at the right time to take advantage of a moving defender? Can he anticipate the creation of pockets and deliver pinpoint passes to open shooters?

While Smith’s role — full-time starter or member of a timeshare — will largely determine his opportunity to accrue assists, learning how to make next-level passes will allow him to reach his potential that much sooner. Five assists per game is an easy goal for the league’s best point guards, even while it’s a difficult one for a score-first rookie. That makes it a strong barometer for his development as a floor general.