The New Orleans Pelicans have been limited on cap space during most of the tenure of Anthony Davis.

When they found cap space again in 2016 with the salary cap increase, they considered spending all of it on Harrison Barnes.

The Pelicans instead signed E'Twaun Moore and Solomon Hill while letting Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson walk.

Barnes ultimately signed with the Dallas Mavericks.

The Dallas Mavericks are quietly gauging trade interest for Dennis Smith Jr.

Marc Stein originally reported that execs around the league are skeptical of Smith's backcourt chemistry with Luka Doncic and believe he will eventually be moved. And while the Mavs told Stein they aren't actively shopping Smith, scouts and general managers from other teams say that they are exploring opportunities.

Doncic and Smith are a minus-6.1 points per 100 possessions when played together, compared to an average of plus-1.5 points per 100 possessions on the whole.

Smith has only played three games in December due to a wrist injury. He's averaging 13 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds on the season. 

Harrison Barnes released a statement to The Undefeated following comments by Mark Cuban about how the owner of the Dallas Mavericks believes basketball development in Europe is better than the United States.

Cuban's comments praised how Doncic was developed in Europe while referencing how players in the United States "learn how to taunt and put together mixtapes."

"As a statement, I don't agree with it," said Barnes. "As a joke, I don't find it funny. And frankly I think it doesn't reflect what makes the NBA special.

"The great thing about our league is that players come from all over the world. We are raised in every background imaginable and bring unique perspectives because of it. We should celebrate that. We bring those perspectives on each other, on issues in our communities and we aren't afraid to learn from and share those perspectives. That's our strength."

Luka Doncic left the Dallas Mavericks' 120-116 loss to the Golden State Warriors with a hip injury. He crashed into a baseline chair late in the third quarter.

"I think it is just a hit. We will see tomorrow how it is and if I can play," said Doncic, although Rick Carlisle didn't think it was a serious injury.

Doncic finished the game with 19 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds, including a 14 point first quarter. 

It was enough to make an impression on both Draymond Green and Steph Curry.

"That dude good. He got it. He going to be a problem. He already a problem, but he's going to be really good for a long time," Green said.

Curry added that "He's very talented. He's smart, high-IQ guy, obviously. Has a lot of confidence to his game, lot of swag to his game. He came out firing tonight. With some patented moves that he showed, but he's a guy that just knows what he's doing out there".

In discussing Luka Doncic's immediate impact in the NBA, Mark Cuban credited Slovenia's basketball education system for teaching Doncic how to play the game.

Cuban stated that "if we took our best kids...before they are McDonald’s all-American, we sent them over to Slovenia to get an education, the league would be a thousand times better. They just learn how to play basketball while our guys learn how to taunt and put together mixtapes.”

Cuban also credited Doncic's maturity and calmness to playing with older players in Europe.

He added that "the moment’s never too big for [Doncic]. You never see that in a rookie...it is important because you’re used to people being older than you but I think he just learned how to play basketball and that’s the biggest gift".

Dave Joerger said he doesn't see a ceiling for Luka Doncic's potential after the Sacramento Kings beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-113.

Joerger continued, saying that the next step for Doncic is to become a great shooter "and when that happens, it's going to make him quicker. He's got good ballhandling and he knows how to play. Perhaps there was an idea that there was a ceiling on him. I don't see it, unfortunately for us. But he's great for them and he's great for our league".

Doncic finished the game with 28 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. The Kings passed on Doncic and drafted Marvin Bagley Jr. with the second pick in last year's NBA draft. 

The matchup also featured another young guard receiving praise from an opposing coach in De'Aaron Fox, with Rick Carlisle describing the second-year guard's speed as "breathtaking". 

Harrison Barnes said "it'd be great to go to the free throw line" following the Dallas Mavericks 114-107 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

Rick Carlisle was ejected in the third quarter after complaining about a lack of foul calls as Barnes draws contact on drives. 

After the game, Barnes said "I ask the refs on almost every play what I could be doing or what I'm not doing. Still haven't got any answers from that. Maybe [NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe] can give me some answers. I'm just trying to be aggressive and trying to find spots where I can."

Barnes is averaging 4.1 foul shots per game this season, the same number as last year. 

Dirk Nowitzki is set to make his season debut against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

Nowitzki's recovery from ankle surgery last spring has been taking longer than expected.

The 40-year-old German, entering his 21st season, is set to make NBA history for the longest career with one team. He averaged 12 points and 5.7 rebounds coming off the bench in a high-scoring unit last season, and will reprise the same role again this year.

Nowitzki said "the boys are playing well. Maxi [Kleber]'s been playing, and Dwight [Powell]'s playing well off the bench. ... I have no idea [about the fit in the rotation], but it's not a bad thing to be deep at a position...our bench has been great all year and has won a bunch of games for us."

Jason Terry said he will remain retired unless he receives a call from one of three teams: the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors or Dallas Mavericks.

"Then I'll answer the phone," said Terry on the Mavs' broadcast on Saturday.

Terry played for the Milwaukee Bucks last season.

After struggling with his shooting for the first three quarters, Luka Doncic scored 11 straight points late in the fourth as the Dallas Mavericks came back for a 107-104 win over the Houston Rockets. 

The Mavs were trailing 102-94 before Doncic's run, beginning with a three-pointer with 2:49 left in the game. Doncic then hit a step-back three over Clint Capela, scored a floater on PJ Tucker, and buried another step-back three over Capela. He finished the game with 21 points and 7 rebounds.

Doncic downplayed his game, saying "it's just basketball". 

He's the fourth player to go on a personal 11-0 run this season, alongside Steph Curry, Lou Williams, and James Harden.  

"It was special," Rick Carlisle said. "It's pretty clear that he's got a flair for the moment. He's unafraid. You don't see that every day."

Devin Harris added that Doncic is not "an ordinary 19-year-old...he's got a next-play mentality, doesn't get hung up on what happened earlier in the game. With the way we play and our profession, you've got to have that quick amnesia. He has that, and he showed it tonight."