Rick Carlisle wanted the Dallas Mavericks to select Donovan Mitchell in the 2017 draft instead of Dennis Smith. Tim MacMahon of ESPN writes that Carlisle "completely soured on Smith midway through his rookie campaign."

The treatment by Carlisle of Smith contributed to eventual issues with Luka Doncic. During Doncic's rookie season, he became friends with Smith. Smith showed Doncic around Dallas, lived int he same apartment building and had spent hours playing video games together.

While the Mavericks marketed their new guard tandem, Carlisle and the front office knew they would eventually trade Smith. The Mavericks eventually traded Smith to the New York Knicks in the Kristaps Porzingis trade.

"Carlisle's apparent determination to make Smith miserable during their brief time as teammates was appalling to Doncic," writes MacMahon based on the accounts of multiple sources. 

Carlisle even accused Smith of being jealous of Doncic during a team meeting. Doncic resented what he perceived as an attempt from Carlisle to pit him against his friend. The situation was an origin story for the mistrust and tension Doncic had with Carlisle. 

"It wasn't really about how Rick treated Luka," a Mavs player on the 2018-19 team said. "Luka hated how Rick treated other people."