Tim Hardaway Jr. is looking to expand his game as Luka Doncic‘s backcourt partner, Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News writes. Hardaway, who served as the sixth man in more than half of the Mavericks’ games last season, will look to boost his defensive presence along with delivering his usual 3-point shooting.
“He’s able to score the ball, but we’re asking him to play defense, too,” coach Jason Kidd said. “We’re trying to show him the things that can help him be better at that position, and if he can do those things, I think he can be talked about as an All-Star, too, in this league.”
Hardaway, who signed a four-year, $75MM contract this summer, chose to be a starter this season after Kidd gave him the option of being in the lineup regularly or heading the second unit.
We have more on the Mavericks:
- Dallas made a strong push for Frank Ntilikina, which the free agent point guard appreciated, he told Marc Stein of Substack. “I felt that will since the beginning of free agency, so that will from them to have me here, that’s what made me want to come here,” the former Knicks guard said. “The challenge is just exciting.” Ntilikina signed a two-year minimum contract, though the second year is non-guaranteed.
- Kidd believes that Kristaps Porzingis can return to his All-Star form as early as this season, according to Caplan. “I think he has the skill set to be an All-Star. He is an All-Star in this league,” Kidd said. “Sometimes we judge people unfairly because of injuries or other things that are going on, and we expect them to be robots or be All-Stars every year.”
- Despite having two max players, the Mavericks have a favorable cap situation, John Hollinger of The Athletic notes. Dallas is still $16MM below the luxury-tax line, giving the club plenty of elbow room to pursue roster upgrades. Hollinger takes a deep dive into the team’s offseason moves and projects it to finish with the Western Conference’s fifth-best record.
The Dallas “Knicks” …… Oh yeah
Rooting for you Frank. Time is now brother.
Mavs don’t have the formula. You need to pair Luka with a HOF or fringe HOF guard and F/C. See Wade(100%)/Bosh(99%) and Kyrie(83%)/Love (73%).
And they have to be in their prime. That’s all.
Trade for Kyrie. That’s one piece of the puzzle.
@Philly
not exactly the formula used by the most recent nba champs. bucks, Raptors, e.t.c
Kawhi 77% Lowry 85% Gasol 4%.
Bucks are the outlier Giannis 67% but Khris and Jrue barely register.
Lakers AD 98% and role players Dwight 99% Rondo 60%.
GSW 4x Curry 99% KD 100% Klay 51% Draymond 34%.
Cavs already mentioned. Heat already mentioned.
Spurs Duncan HOF. Kawhi 77% Parker 93% Manu 20%.
I was also kinda being sarcastic but not, bc of the LBJ comparison
The cap situation is not bad, but, with THJ’s contract, their window to use cap space to add talent (before Luka’s extension kicks in) has closed. It’s good that Kidd is at least asking him to play defense. His offensive game is better suited to coming off the bench. Surprised he was given the option to start, but not surprised he wants to (more shots for him).
Sounds like Dallas is just loaded with All-Stars
How does a “strong push” for a minimum guy even look?))