Mavericks swingman Tim Hardaway Jr. will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and should command a sizable new contract. It’s possible he’ll get that deal in Dallas, since it sounds as if he and the Mavs’ brass are hoping to continue their partnership.
Ahead of his free agency, Hardaway acknowledged his enthusiasm for the Mavericks, per Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). “If you were to talk to anybody in this organization and anybody that’s around me, they will definitely say that I love it here,” Hardaway said.
Bringing Hardaway back to Dallas on a long-term deal is one of the club’s top offseason goals, writes Dwain Price of Mavs.com. The 6’5″ veteran wing was a big contributor to a Mavericks team that pushed the Clippers to the brink in a competitive seven-game first-round series matchup. Hardaway averaged 16.6 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 1.8 APG across 70 regular season games with the Mavericks. He boasted a shooting line of .447/.391/.816.
“It’s a big summer for us,” team president Donnie Nelson acknowledged. “We’re looking forward to putting the other building blocks in place. We’ll look internally first, as we always do. We like a lot of the things that we’ve seen.”
There’s more out of Dallas:
- Mavericks All-Star Luka Dončić put up a terrific playoff series performance against the Clippers, but it appears that he could use the help of a true second option after his team fell short to L.A. in the first round for the second straight season. Sam Quinn of CBS.com takes an in-depth look at Dallas’ potential paths for adding another star.
- The Mavericks will have an action-packed offseason as they look to cement their roster for the 2021/22 season, which will include decisions on several key role players and one essential superstar, writes Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News. Caplan notes that the Mavericks could have as many as eight free agents and five contract extensions to juggle. Ahead of the final year of his rookie-scale deal, Dončić will be eligible for a maximum contract extension this summer worth over $200MM. Other choices facing Dallas include a determination on whether or not to extend reserve guard Jalen Brunson.
- Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle acknowledged that the club’s roster will undergo some changes this summer in an interview with Dallas-area radio station 96.7 The Ticket, per Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News (Twitter link). “I don’t know at this time whether the majority of our moves will be through trade or will be through free agency, but I know we will be active,” Carlisle said.
The Brunson decision doesn’t really seem like much of a decision at all… he averaged 12 ppg last year and the option is only for $1.8M… that seems like an easy call to me.
Not quite as simple as that, declining the option allows him to be a restricted FA this summer, if they decide to pick the option up he’ll be a unrestricted free agent next summer, so they must decide do they want more control over his free agency in a summer with limited amount of teams with cap space , or allow him to be truly free in a summer with a ton of teams with open cap space
I take my comment back I did not realize he signed a straight up 4 year deal with no options
Yeah I’ve edited that note — the decision isn’t on his fourth-year salary, it’s on a potential extension.
Hardaway cap hold is $28 million
If Mavs sign him $23m per season
they won’t have enough money to sign other team free agents
The key to success is to steal other team good free agents
And how often does that happen? When most teams have a good free agent, they usually have bird rights on said player. So unless you’re talking about a poorly run franchise, like OKC for instance, you don’t let a former MVP (and eventual two time Finals MVP) like Kevin Durant walk for nothing.
Weren’t the rockets conned into taking Westbrook and his contract off the hands of that same poorly run franchise?
Hardaway has a PER of 16, lousy defensive numbers, and a minus3 on-off. He cannot be worth $17mil again. I suspect he must interview well.
Dallas should be seeking a Doncic-force-multiplier and defender. Atlanta has several… That ATL-DAL rivalry echoed by TraeY-LukaD… Still in effect!
Agreed. I like him as a fourth starter or 6th man, and I give him credit for improving his off the dribble game.
He’s a very good but not quite elite 3p shooter, an average tertiary playmaker, and a guy who theoretically can be good defensively but more often than not isn’t.
With all that being said, the problem for Dallas is that he might have been their second best player this postseason. Can you let him walk for nothing?
Role players always love “ this place” hopefully the Mavs don’t overspend on guys who had 1 good year
Porzingis and Finney-Smith to Miami for Iggy, Dragic, Achiuwa, Okpala and a couple second round picks.
Miami gets a legit scoring stretch 4 all star caliber player to pair with Bam and Butler. Dallas get Dragic and Iggy as veteran pieces to compliment Luka… Also get a young big with potential in Achiuwa, who could play some solid minutes up front providing hustle and Okpala is another potential prospect. Dallas also gets out of a disgruntled players contract with Iggy and Dragic set to expire after the year. They could then use that money to attack a player or two in free agency to pair with Luka the following year.
Luka needs to play the 2 IMO, he doesn’t distribute enough and I’m not sure the Mavs will be able to bring in a top notch scorer with him running PG. If you could get Dragic that would be a step I in the right direction.
Averaging 8.6 assists in a season is not distributing enough? Luka is fine at the one. He just needs to trust his teammates more perhaps but that will come as he grows and if/when the Mavs get players he can trust.
No it’s not enough and if you like your PG to be slow, fat and holds the ball way too much then you have your guy. Enjoy the first round because that’s as far as he’s going to get playing the way he does.
That’s why people always compare him to Harden.
It’s not enough? He was 5th in the league in assists this year. What is enough? 15 assists a game? 30 assists per game? Should he stop shooting altogether so he can assist on every basket Dallas makes – would that be enough for you?
Also you’re conflating two different things. Luka is a PG on offense but he’s rarely guarding the PG on the opposite end, much like LeBron, Harden, Butler, and litany of other wing players who initiate offense but play wings on defense.
He had at least 10 passes that should have been assists in game 7. They needed Seth in game 7.
Heat dont have 2nd round picks and while it addresses a couple of issues, arguably for each team, it creates/exacerbates issues in other areas. Ut also would definitely cost more than just 2nd round picks, especially with the value of DFS
Good for Miami. Not the Mavs. DFS has emerged as their best perimeter defender and has a Luka friendly offensive game. He isn’t going anywhere unless something very real (foundational starter) is coming back. Dragic and Iggy aren’t really trade assets at their option numbers (which were inflated as they were options), and marginal assets at any price. The young guys are no more than future rotation players. Maybe the assumption is that the Mavs will be so anxious to unload KP6 that they’ll give away value to do it. I highly doubt it. KP6 is still the only other elite talent on their team and there’s not immediate financial reason to get him off their books.
Iggy has a team option for next season, doubtful they exercise it.
If it was Porzingis and Richardson … oh wait.
But as DXC mentioned that’s kind of the issue I see here. DFS is too valuable to them now. Honestly if I was Miami I might do that deal with Porzingis as the sole piece if it worked cap wise. Dragic and Iggy are fossils and Ach is an ok prospect but probably has a lower ceiling than even this diminished version of KP.
But Miami probably has bigger targets in mind. But I think that’s Kristaps’ ideal role, as a 3rd banana behind two legit stars.
I think Powell fits better than Hardaway. He can start at the 2, solid 2way guy. Who with Luka, will shoot even better. Been saying this since he was a Rookie with us. KP needs weight and to play center. Get a old school physical 4 next to him. A 10 n 10 guy who plays D and bangs. Like Celts Williams. I’d try and get Carey Jr out of Charlotte. Slim him down a bit and he can be that PF. Otherwise you might as well move KP. Cause his whole career will be like this. In and out of line-up. Waiting for him to get hurt again. If you don’t believe in him. Move him now and get what you can .
Powell can start at the 2??? That’s insane.
I think he means Norman Powell not Dwight Powell.
I thought it was clear. At the 2, and a FA. Probably signs for less than what Hardaway thinks he’s worth. Only Thibs is also looking at Powell. Hardaway is not 2way guy. He’s more a scorer off the bench. Mavs should not commit to bad contracts. When you have a generational player like Luka.
No it wasn’t clear since Mavs have a Powell on their roster. But what you meant is the only thing that makes sense I just thought u might be insane at first.
Yeah OK , I forget where I am. The discussion is about resigning THjr. Or replacing him.
Ironically, Knicks could use THJ’s scoring.
We need starters who can score. Burkes, Bullock, Quickly, Rose can score off bench. THjr does not play D well enough to start. Or to get 15 mill a yr imo. To the right team he’s worth 10 mill. He’s only a bench scorer to me. Knicks need a scorer/shooter to start and a PG. Both should be addressed this off-season. FAs, draft, or trade. Two players I move up draft for Kuminga, Mitchell. Both can start for us. Both 2way players. Both have big upside SF, PG.
Agree with this.
Also agree Powell makes sense in Dallas. But they’d probably have to overpay to pry him from Portland, since apparently “the roster isn’t the issue” over there.
Kyle Lowry is an obvious target for them, in my opinion, and Oladipo would have probably been as well, had he not been injured. They need another piece, outside of Richardson, that can guard the guard spots and play with Luka. I have to look at the free agent list, but another wing option probably is at least on their list. Should be interesting to see what happens with Hardaway jr. He probably should be brought back, depending on what they can do at that guard spot, but I also see him potentially getting overpaid, b/c he is more of a $14-16 million type of guy at most. They also need another piece at the 4 that can potentially defend/knock down shots. Last year they brought in Iwundu and James Johnson, which as I mentioned didnt work out. Josh Green and Tyler Bey can provide some of what they need at the 3/4 spots, but if they dont want to rely on that jump, those are probably the main things they need to address in the offseason, as well as maybe another option offensively in the half court, outside of Boban, if they arent going to use Porzingis as anything more than a floor spacer
Carlisle needs to go. The MAVS need another system.
Everyone loves Luka, he has ascended into being a legit superstar – however the MAVS style of play just won’t go far in the West (I picked LAC before the series started, even when they went down 0-2).
Methinks Luka is best served with a legit PG handling the ball in the half-court. Luka holding the ball 80% of the time slows them down, relegating THJ, KP, etc into standstill shooters.
Having a legit PG preserves Luke some in-game, should result in better movement and allow Luka to pick his spots, use that big frame, for higher-percentage shots. It can’t be turnaround, step-back longballs all the time.
I’ve posted more than a few times that I have a feeling that Dragic somehow finds his way into the MAVS his final playing years. It’s a fit in more than a few ways. The MAVS love their international players and Dragic being Slovenian is perfect. He’s probably that one player who can shout at Luka to stop complaining and pouting. When healthy, Dragic plays that part of attacking, passing PG as well as anybody.
I’m not sure of other “affordable” PG’s available this offseason, DRose, Dinwiddie, perhaps?
Agreed.
You have to almost be a Curry/Thompson caliber shooter (Lillard is best off the dribble) to be able to spot up and wait… and wait… and wait… and wait…
And wait… and finally get a crosscourt pass and make the (open) jumpshot.
Most shooters – even the good ones – are rhythm shooters, even on catch & shoot shots, and when that ball doesn’t come when you normally expect it…
Sometimes, the stars align and those open (and waiting… and waiting) shooters are all hitting and Luka gets 14-20 assists. Those nights are few and far between.
We all thought Redick would help but Luka had him – out of frustration – shooting more jumpers off the dribble in two weeks than he had in the last 10 years, frustrated so much that he checked out for the rest of the season.
In my opinion, Luka doesn’t need to change his game as much as the game PLAN needs to be tweaked. Instead of Luka goin 1v5 the majority of the the time, they just need a better balance of Luka being Luka and Carlisle running plays/sets. Right now, the only time they run a play is out of time-outs or out-of-bounds situations.
A closer ratio of sets and Luka ball might just be the answer to getting the other guys engaged and involved, rather than just standing around being grenade tossers at the end of the shot clock. Could be worth a try.
But hell, what do I know… ;)
Agreed. I think the game plan is Harden-esque right now due to personnel more than anything.
They just don’t have a second guy who can consistently create a shot for others – except maybe Brunson – which is why it’s Luka 60% of the time every time.
It’s possible Carlisle has a Lithuanian bias but my guess is they’re using KP as a floor space because he isn’t efficient enough facing up or in the post. Which is a real problem for them.
Trade KP for cap space
Then tell Kawhi to come over and bring a friend in Serge Ibaka.
Both are set to hit FA. Kawhi must be thinking this heavy lifting in LA is tiring, the coach sucks and I don’t think I’m going to win a chip. Ibaka at the same time must be thinking why did I sign here, they ain’t playing me any minutes and we are really struggling.
Then go get yourself Spencer Dinwiddie and lastly just some cheap vets. Avery Bradley, JaVale McGee and Reggie Bullock.
1. Dinwiddie. Brunson. Terry
2. Doncic. Bradley. Green
3. Kawhi. Finney-Smith. Bullock
4. Kleber. Melli.
5. Ibaka. McGee. Powell
No team stops Doncic and Kawhi with Dinwiddie and Ibaka plus some good role players
Dallas could try and trade KP to Boston. KP and Brunson for Kemba and Smart.
That isn’t a terrible trade actually.
thats the worst trade ive ever seen in here, KP is worthless
As depressing as that is I think it could happen.
It’s like Wall for Russ. Two guys getting traded for each other bc no one else wants them.
Simmons/Russ… Is Burke waived or traded?
I was think of something like KP for Dragic, Iggy and then fillers….
Dallas can then release Iggy, Hardaway, JRich, Reddick, Cauley-Stein and Marjanovic which frees up approximately 68mil.
Throw Kawhi a max deal at around 40mil. Throw Ibaka 15mil, bring back Hardaway maybe at 15mil. That’s also keeping Dragic. They could decide to keep him or lease him which would free up another 19 mil which they could throw at Dinwiddie and some bench pieces or whatever.
You surround Doncic with some quality pieces like this your not only going to win a chip but your looking at maybe 2/3
Watching Doncic is like watching peak Lebron run an offense…but Doncic plays D like an old disinterested unathletic Lebron. Who’s the perfect co-star for Lebron? Well, no star every had their best numbers years next to Lebron. So, unless the Mavs can pull a Lebron and sign hall of fame, top 10 player in the league talent, then their path to a championship with Luka will have to be like the Kahwi Raptors (a bunch of very very good role players with no other super star). Mavs need a board man…they probably need 2 or 3…1 that plays defense like Dwight Howard, and another that plays offense like Montrezl Harrell. If the Mavs had Dwight or Montrezl, I don’t think the Clippers could have played small ball. But maybe KP is washed up…his defense looked atrocious in the Clippers series. Hardaway is a player that is good on offense when teams aren’t guarding him closely…if they overpay him I won’t be surprised and anything more than 15 million is a very bad overpay. Mavs need a player who can run an offense keep the Mavs respectable when Luka sits.
Ive wanted Harrell in DAL, attitude & PnR with Doncic… he is still available.
I doubt Porzingis moves… but someone should, like with most teams this year. The Bulls have rights to another Yugoslav, a 6-5 guard who excelled in the Euroleague. There should be another guard who can get on Doncic’s wavelength.
Yes, the Mavs need a PF that can run the pick and role with attitude with Luka…a big that can give the Mavs some control of the paint thru athleticism and physicality. A guard that can run the second unit offense…Brunson is good but probably they need somebody better…Ginobili ran the Spurs bench offense…Rondo ran the Lakers bench last year…Pippen ran it when Jordan sat…I don’t think they’ll move KP unless they get some top talent back…they’ll hope KP gets healthy and that they figure out how to use him…trading KP now might make them make an even bigger financial mistake…at least KP only has 3 years left…Luka will be in the middle of his max when KP expires..it’ll give them a max slot to re-tool around.
Luka does hold ball too much. Yes you have to blame offense for that. But Mavs don’t really have much. I don’t think Luka is a prima-Donna like Harden. He just wants to wi so bad. Like Kobe he just thinks working off him works. Mavs have to redo the team around him. They can use a real big who plays on blocks. KPdont want to gain weight. They need to move on. You need 3-D guys around him. Mavs really need to look at breaking up that team. Not going anywhere and are going to burn Luka out.
The decision that will affect the team for the rest of Luka’s under 25 years is Hardaway. Mavs must say NO to giving him a big contract. He’s a limited player, and the part of his skill set that complements Luka’s game also limits it. His deficiencies can’t be covered without further limiting it.
It takes discipline, but Donnie Jr and Carlisle generally have the support of the owner, and need to convince him that they should not have the rigid goal of putting the finishing touches on the team this year. If they are, it’s likely they’ll reach and regret it.
Kristaps is the tallest shooting guard of all time smh
Can’t wait for the KP to GSW trade to go through :D
To all Mavericks fans. Do you want THJ or DeRozan?
Not a Mavs fan but I think DeRozan might be cheaper?
Also they do need a secondary playmaker desperately.
Would a Luka/Demar/DFS/KP/Maxi lineup be an improvement even with the loss of shooting? They’d still have 4/5 guys who can shoot the 3, but they’d have another guy who can legit create. IDK.
People been mentioning Porzingis for Wall+pick. Makes a lot of sense for both teams.
It would only make sense for the Mavs if the pick was the Rockets’ top 4 pick this year. KP’s baby max contract can easily transition out of bad contract territory with health. Wall’s supermax is fixed as toxic waste, and his skill set is almost unplayable next to Luka.
Derozen to mavs doesn’t sound so bad now huh???? How about Porzingis for Kevin Love????
A local-beat writer said there’s talk in the FO of a Love buyout. If you Love something set it free.
Softzingis for Hield & Bagley makes sense too. Send the kings two picks also so they won’t cry…