New NBA trade intel has been revealed on Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. by Tim Cato of The Athletic. While the Mavericks may still trade Hardaway Jr. before the 2023-24 NBA season starts, Cato believes the veteran could remain in Dallas for a little while longer.
“The Mavericks really believed they would move him this summer, and they still might,” Cato wrote. “I’m not as confident about that as I was entering this summer; I’m now maybe at 51/49 that he’s traded before training camp, although much more certain he’s moved at some point this season. Seth Curry’s addition and Hardy’s need for minutes — it’s possible I feel more strongly about that need than the coaching staff, but we’ll see — really leaves no room for Hardaway, but he’s is still better than both of them. He would and should get minutes over them if he’s on the team next season.”
Hardaway Jr. signed a four-year, $75 million contract with the Mavericks in August 2021. He averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists last NBA season while shooting 40.1% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc and 77.0% from the free-throw line. The Michigan product will make $17.9 million next season.
Hardaway Jr. has career averages of 14.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists with the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks and Mavericks.
The Mavericks re-signed Kyrie Irving and Dwight Powell, acquired Grant Williams from the Boston Celtics and Richaun Holmes from the Sacramento Kings and signed Seth Curry and Dante Exum this summer. Dallas signed Matisse Thybulle to an offer sheet, but the Portland Trail Blazers matched it.
The Mavericks were only 5-11 in games Luka Doncic and Irving played together last season. That was the worst winning percentage for a pair of teammates who were both All-Stars since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976-77, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Dallas, though, didn’t want to lose Irving, who wound up re-signing with the Mavericks on a three-year, $126 million contract.
It will be interesting to see what the Mavericks do with Hardaway Jr., who is a career 36.1% shooter from 3.
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