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

Case for the Dallas Mavericks bringing back Tim Hardaway Jr.

Hardaway Jr. has taken his game to another level with the Mavs. The 29-year-old averaged 16.6 points and 3.0 3-pointers made per game on 39.1 percent shooting from distance. He has embraced a catch-and-shoot role and was arguably the Mavericks’ second-best player this season.

THJ scored 20 points four times in the playoff series against the LA Clippers. The Mavs won three of those games and narrowly lost Game 6 as Kawhi Leonard delivered an otherworldly performance for the Clippers.

Hardaway Jr. is an important floor spacer and scorer for the Dallas Mavericks high-powered offense. He improved his ability to score after being run off the 3-point line this season. THJ is in the middle of his prime and continues to improve his game.

The Mavs need the 6’5 wing’s ability to heat up and have an outstanding scoring performances. Hardaway Jr. had 29 or more points six times this season, and Dallas lost just one of those games. Having a scorer that can drop 30 next to Luka makes the Mavericks a more dangerous team.

Tim Hardaway Jr. is not the perfect fit, though. There are a few reasons the Dallas Mavericks could let him walk this summer as they search for an upgrade.

Next: Case against re-signing THJ

Case against the Dallas Mavericks bringing back Tim Hardaway Jr.

Hardaway Jr. is one of the top free agents on the market. Teams will value his scoring and floor spacing abilities. Multiple organizations have saved up cap space for this summer, but the star-studded names have almost all already inked new deals with their current teams. The Mavs could be stuck overpaying to keep THJ in Dallas long-term.

Should they hand a four-year $80 million deal to Hardaway Jr. this offseason? Dallas could regret that deal in his age-32 season if the sharpshooter begins to decline.

Hardaway Jr. is not the perfect fit. He improves their offense, but remember the 6’5 wing was moved to the bench for significant stretches this season as the Mavericks attempted to upgrade their defense. THJ shined playing next to Luka Doncic or as the sixth man, but he is at best an average defender.

The 29-year-old is not a playmaker either. He averaged just 1.8 assists per game this season. The Mavs will be searching for a secondary creator to play next to Luka Doncic this offseason. The front office will have to decide between re-signing Tim Hardaway Jr. or chasing the big-name free agents.

Next: Should Mavs re-sign THJ?

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

Yes, the Mavs should quickly re-sign Tim Hardaway Jr. this summer. They could chase Kawhi Leonard, Chris Paul, Kyle Lowry, or Mike Conley, but all four of those players are likely staying put. Dallas risks striking out big time if they don’t keep THJ and look for upgrades with their exceptions.

Re-signing Hardaway Jr. gives the Dallas Mavericks another asset to move forward with as they look to build a title contender. If they have a chance to upgrade via trade, having a $20 million contract on the books with positive value is massive. THJ will keep knocking down open shots and creating lanes for Luka Doncic to carve up the defense.

There appears to be mutual interest in a reunion. Hardaway Jr. talked about his love for Dallas and the Mavericks during his exit interview on June 7. Coach Rick Carlisle let fans know that re-signing THJ is a priority for the front office. Expect Tim Hardaway Jr. to be back with the Dallas Mavericks and better than ever next season.

It is an important offseason for the organization, so stay tuned for all the latest rumors, news, and analysis at The Smoking Cuban. Fans will not want to miss it.