After making their first run to an NBA Finals since winning it all in 2011, the Dallas Mavericks are clearly not satisfied.
The team is sending veteran two-guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to the Detroit Pistons for guard Quentin Grimes and three second-round picks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Hardaway has been a Maverick for 5.5 seasons after being dealt by the Knicks as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade in 2019. A microwave scorer, he’s fluctuated between a starting spot and a sixth-man role during his tenure in Dallas.
The former 24th-overall pick averaged 14.4 points on 35.3 per cent three-point shooting in 2023-24, coming off the bench in all but 12 of his 79 games played. Hardaway Jr.’s production took a dip during the post-season, however, as his playing time got cut in half and he averaged 4.4 points in 12.7 minutes through 14 games.
Dallas makes the move for the younger, more cost-friendly Grimes largely to free up space to re-sign unrestricted free agent Derrick Jones Jr. who general manager Nico Harrison said was “priority 1A and 1B,” per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
Moving Hardaway Jr. frees up enough cap space for the Mavericks to hopefully bring back the two-way forward on a nontaxpayer midlevel exception, valued at $12.9 million.
Meanwhile, the Pistons get three future second-rounders for taking on Hardaway Jr.’s expiring $16.2 million. Grimes will only be owed $4.3 million this upcoming season, the final year of his rookie deal. The 24-year-old suited up in only six games for Detroit last season due to a knee injury after being dealt from New York midway through the year.
Through 45 games with the Knicks in 2023-24, the former 25th-overall pick averaged 7.3 points and two rebounds on 54.3 per cent true shooting.