Dallas Mavericks: Tim Hardaway and JaVale McGee are on the trade block

The Dallas Mavericks accomplished a lot in their first big test of the offseason. They moved on from their worst contract by packaging Pick 10 with Davis Bertans. They drafted their top target and the center of the future in Dereck Lively at Pick 12.

They flipped a trade exception returned in the Bertans trade for a second first round pick that became Olivier-Maxence Prosper. They cleared money, added young players with a proclivity for defense, and set themselves up for more opportunities in free agency.

But more can be done, and the trade market is the best way to go about it.

The Dallas Mavericks accomplished a few things on draft day but plenty of action items remain, starting with moving Tim Hardaway and JaVale McGee

Tim Hardaway Jr. has had an up and down career with the Dallas Mavericks. At times he’s been a killer, scoring at will and posting hot streaks that made the Mavs nearly unbeatable. But more often than not he’s been a volume shooter, lacking efficiency or defense.

Playing on a 5-year, $75M deal, Hardaway is overpaid by many accounts and prohibits the Mavs from doing what they need to do to build a roster. Trading him for a stopgap center (while Lively eases in) or splitting his contract up into two cheaper players is a goal this summer.

JaVale McGee never lived up the 3-year, $17.2M deal he signed last summer. The 35-year old center doesn’t fit into Jason Kidd’s system, making McGee a less-than-viable option at starting center. Like Hardaway, his money is better used elsewhere and the Dallas Mavericks would rather split it up for younger and cheaper players.

The Mavs need a few things still this offseason:

1. Defensive-minded wing players
2. Stopgap starting center
3. Third ball-handler

Hardaway and McGee won’t be viewed as assets to every team, so the Dallas Mavericks need to find the right teams to target. Hardaway, specifically, would be an attractive option for a team that needs veteran leadership and scoring.

What complicates things is Dallas doesn’t have many valuable pieces to add. They want to keep Josh Green and Jaden Hardy so negotiations will be tricky and the eventual result will likely appear less-than-thrilling.

The Mavs are looking to move on from Hardaway and McGee and need to gain the right pieces back in return. Phones are ringing this week.

• Published on 06/27/2023 at 22:01 PM
• Last updated at 06/27/2023 at 22:01 PM