The Dennis Smith Jr. bandwagon keeps getting more crowded.

Charles Barkley said Wednesday that he believes the Rookie of the Year award this season is going to be a two-person race. And the Mavericks rookie is one of the contenders.

"I think Dennis Smith is a stud," Barkley said. "I picked him for Rookie of the Year. I think it's going to come down to him and De'Aaron Fox [of Sacramento]. I think they're both terrific.

"I love what the Mavs did drafting him. I had to flip a coin between him and De'Aaron Fox for Rookie of the Year. It could go either way."

Barkley was at the SMU Athletic Forum on Wednesday and gave his always colorful opinions on a variety of subjects.

While he's big on Smith, when it comes to the Mavericks as a whole, Barkley is not quite as bullish. He said the Mavericks may be in for another rough season.

"They need a bunch of players," he said. "I'm not sure they shouldn't be tanking, to be honest. You need a bunch of young players to feel like the future is bright. I love Dennis Smith, but I don't see how they make the playoffs. If they make playoffs, it'll be as a lower seed. But I don't see them making the playoffs."