According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Dallas Mavericks are pursuing a trade to move on from Tim Hardaway Jr.
“League sources say that the Mavericks will promptly resume their long-running search for a trade partner to take Hardaway on, which is more likely than ever to come to fruition with the 32-year-old now entering the final season of his current contract and with his salary declining from $17.9 million in 2023-24 to $16.2 million in 2024-25.”
The 32-year-old has spent the last six seasons of his career with the Mavericks. In that time, he has averaged 15.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. Hardaway has just one year remaining on his four-year, $75 million contract. Additionally, despite a solid regular season, where he finished in the top-10 in the voting for the Sixth Man of the Year award, Hardaway did not have a good playoff run.
In Dallas’ Finals run, Hardaway appeared in 14 games and was inactive for eight additional playoff games. Hardaway averaged 12.7 minutes over those games and averaged just 4.4 points per game.
Dallas Mavericks Likely Trading Former First-Round NBA Pick
Trading Tim Hardaway Jr. Could Make It Easier to Re-Sign Derrick Jones Jr.
According to Stein, the Mavericks could move on from Hardaway to re-sign Derrick Jones Jr. in free agency.
“Finding a new home for Hardaway is a key element of Dallas’ strategy to re-sign Derrick Jones Jr., whose return next season after excelling on a minimum contract this season was labeled by Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison as “priority 1A and 1B” for Dallas this offseason.”
Previously, Harrison made it clear it was the team’s top priority to bring Jones back this summer. Additionally, although Jones is likely going to test the free agency market, head coach Jason Kidd has echoed Harrison’s sentiment.
Turner expects Jones to test the market, just like anyone in his situation would. They hope Dallas can meet them at a price that makes sense for both sides. “We understand the business (and that) there’s other teams that can maybe pay him more,” Kidd said. “But we definitely want him back.
Furthermore, by trading Hardaway, the Mavericks will have a lot more financial flexibility to re-sign Jones.
Could Tim Hardaway Jr. End Up in Miami?
In February, Hardaway’s father, Tim Hardaway, said he wanted to see his son end up on the Miami Heat. The elder Hardaway, who played for the Heat from 1996-to-2001, said he has “been trying” to get his son on the Heat.
“I’ve been trying to get him in a Heat jersey,” Hardaway Sr. answered the question. He continued on by saying “You are not going to wear my jersey.” Hardaway Sr.’s “10” has hung in the rafter of the Kaseya Center since 2009
If the Mavericks move on from the wing, the Heat could be a potential landing spot for him. However, nothing is imminent yet.
Tim Hardaway Sr. says his son, Mavericks guard Tim Hardaway Jr., is “ready to go” to another team:
Fan: “They shipping him out after the season 😂”
THS: “Yes they are. And we want to have a new opportunity to shine. We didn’t like what happen. We are ready to go.”
Thoughts?… pic.twitter.com/LTgSpBCrhU
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) June 22, 2024
