Dallas Mavericks: Should they re-sign Tim Hardaway Jr. this offseason?

The Dallas Mavericks were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season by the LA Clippers. They pushed the series to seven games and got some otherworldly performances from Luka Doncic, but it was not enough. The Mavs have not advanced to the second round of the postseason since winning the championship in 2011.

A pivotal offseason lies ahead for the franchise. They can create over $30 million in cap space and must improve their roster. Luka will be offered a rookie max extension worth north of $200 million, which he is expected to accept. That will go into effect in the 2022-2023 season and limit the team’s future cap space. Now is the time for the Mavericks to add another star.

They could have as many as five of their current players hitting the market this offseason. The biggest is Tim Hardaway Jr. Should the Mavs bring him back? That may not be a clear-cut decision, and here is a look at why.

Re-signing Tim Hardaway Jr. will limit the Dallas Mavericks offseason spending

There are a lot of moving pieces during the offseason. It is impossible to say exactly how much cap space Dallas will have to spend on free agents. Josh Richardson has an $11.6 million player option for next season. His decision will impact things. The Mavs are expected to be active and aggressive on the trade market, which could shake up the roster around Luka Doncic dramatically.

Hardaway Jr. has a gigantic $28.4 million cap hold this offseason, which means Dallas would have to renounce his rights to sign another big-money contract. The Mavericks will be choosing between THJ and the rest of the free-agent class. They would have their mid-level and bi-annual exceptions to use to upgrade their roster if they re-sign Hardaway Jr.

Here is the case for and against the Dallas Mavericks re-signing Tim Hardaway Jr. before reaching a verdict.

Next: Case for re-signing THJ