According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly one of the teams that discussed a potential trade for Dallas Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr.

Smith and the Mavericks had been working to accommodate a trade for him, but receiving equal value for a talented, former No. 9 overall pick just one year into his four-year rookie-scale contract is nearly impossible. The Mavericks discussed Smith deals with several teams, including Orlando, New York and the L.A. Lakers, league sources said.

It is obvious as to why the Lakers would inquire about Smith, as they are in need of a point guard that can make an immediate impact on both ends of the floor. Los Angeles has been playing without LeBron James and Rajon Rondo, who are both dealing with injuries.

Article Continues Below

However, the Mavericks' asking price for last year's ninth overall pick has been pretty high, one of the reasons why he hasn't been traded up to this point. In addition, Dallas had also been working to try to repair their relationship with Smith, and it seems that they're making good progress, as he's reportedly back with the team after not showing up for a couple of days.

It is unclear now if the Mavericks will still entertain trade offers for Smith, as they still believe that the tandem of him and rookie sensation Luka Doncic could still work after the two have failed to co-exist for the first three months of the season.

Meanwhile, the Lakers might need to look at other options. They could have Rondo back as early as Thursday when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves, but they remain shorthanded at the point guard position as Lonzo Ball suffered an ankle injury that will sideline him for approximately four-to-six weeks.