The Mavericks and Pistons are in agreement on a trade that will send veteran wing Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks to Detroit in exchange for swingman Quentin Grimes, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
The three draft assets will be Toronto’s 2025 second-round pick and a pair of 2028 second-rounders, Wojnarowski adds (via Twitter). Dallas has previously traded away its own 2028 second-rounder, but controls Miami’s pick and the least favorable of the Clippers’ and Hornets’ selections for that year, so those figure to be the ones headed to the Pistons.
This deal was first mentioned as a possibility by Marc Stein on Tuesday. As we wrote at that time, finding a deal involving Hardaway was considered a “key element” of the Mavericks’ plan to re-sign starting small forward Derrick Jones. Dallas only holds Non-Bird rights on Jones and can’t offer him a contract worth more than 20% above the minimum without dipping into its mid-level exception.
By moving off of Hardaway’s $16.2MM expiring contract and taking back Grimes (who will make about $4.3MM next season), Dallas will create upwards of $15MM in breathing room below the first tax apron, tweets cap expert Yossi Gozlan, putting the club in a position to use the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception (projected to be worth about $12.9MM) on Jones or another player.
Besides creating financial flexibility, the Mavs will also receive an intriguing young three-and-D player in Grimes, who showed promise in 2022/23 by averaging 11.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 29.9 minutes per game (71 games), with a .468/.386/.796 shooting line. He saw his minutes cut back in New York last season, and a knee injury limited him to just six games after he was acquired by Detroit in February.
Grimes, who will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason as he enters the final year of his rookie contract, also drew trade interest from the Heat and Hawks, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, new Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon had spoken openly about his club’s willingness to take on unwanted contracts if they’re attached to more valuable assets. While the previous front office regime appeared to be viewing Grimes as a potential keeper, Langdon clearly prioritized the draft picks he’ll receive in this swap.
Hardaway’s value as a player also shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s coming off a season in which he averaged 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 26.8 minutes per game across 79 appearances, with a shooting line of .402/.353/.852. After he played a limited role in the playoffs though, there had been a sense that his days with Dallas were numbered.
It’s unclear if the Pistons intend to hang onto Hardaway heading into the 2024/25 season, but the team reportedly has had interest in adding veterans and shooting this summer, making THJ a potential fit. He’s a career 36.0% three-point shooter.
Detroit still projects to have about $50MM in cap room after taking on Hardaway’s contract, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
The influx of shooting begins. People pretending Holland and Thompson can’t each play 24 mins a night at the 3.
Holland the youngest in draft. I doubt he plays at all. It won’t matter who pretends….
A 14 win team will find minutes for a G-league player who averaged over 20 points a game. It’s not controversial whatsoever.
Nice! As a Knicks fan, I am happy for Grimes to be returning to a competitive franchise!
He was the main “piece” returning this spring when they “sold” valuable veterans. Now they just pass him off despite being a younger player with potential on a rebuilding team.
My grade
Mavs B+
Pistons C
It’s hard to give them anything but a C moving forward. Because the Monty Williams thing was a terrible move…. they had the right coach. He deserved better. Got that money though!
What would you have done differently?
Even if they make a good trade it’s a C because Pistons. Brain rot activity
Pistons is incomplete. Should they move hardaway at trade line for more valuable assets its a great trade. 3 2nd rounders is OK but also gave up Grimes who had value. So what they get for Hardaway at trade deadline is the deciding factor.
Both those teams would have made a lot of sense for Grimes at the 2/3 spots. Heat addressed that spot in the 2nd round. Grimes hasn’t been used right, so we’ll see, but I personally think he’s better than just some scoring guard that needs the ball in their hands
Crime wastes his talents because of making bad decision but not skills and physicality?
$11M for three second rounders that most likely will find their way to the bench…maybe. I’d have waited for first rounders that have more of an impact before chewing into available cap.
Nobody is giving up a first for Grimes
A first rounder to unload a contract into Detroit’s cap space.
I think the idea is to get a first rounder for absorbing a really bad contract.
Didn’t mention Grimes. Talking cap since they’re willing to take bad contracts for picks.
Watch THJ put up 20ppg on a suck team and miraculously remember how to knock down shots. Mavs now need to trade for Kuzma…
Great trade for DAL. Grimes is a better player than THJ now, and is controllable going forward. 3 SRPs for him and payroll help is a small price to pay. Hopefully, THJ’s attitude toward defense isn’t contagious.
Good for both teams. Grimes is from Houston. So he must be happy to get closer to home
How do you even underestimate a stat line like that?
Nice move for Dallas.
Dallas can still trade Maxi, Green, Powell and two firsts for Jerami Grant. They will still be able to resign DJJ too.
That will do Powell dirty, but it would improve the wing position big time.
Actually to make it work as Dallas would need to have 14 person roster, instead of Powell they can send Grimes to Portland. That will give Portland another young asset with potential too.
I would have taken back Grimes in NY. I saw a lot of Allen Houston in him. Not sure why Detroit gave up on him. He has more upside than THJ