7 Former, 2 current Dallas Mavericks players listed as 'top NBA trade candidates'

5. Tim Hardaway Jr.

Tim Hardaway Jr. has been a consistent name in trade rumors ever since he stepped foot in Dallas in 2019, so it's no surprise that Scotto listed Hardaway Jr. as a prime trade candidate for the Mavericks ahead of this upcoming trade deadline.

Mavs fans have been very commending of Hardaway Jr.'s resilience though, as he's leading a surprising Sixth Man of the Year campaign by averaging the most points that he's averaged since being in Dallas at 17.4 points per game in 24 contests thus far.

"I didn’t know if I was going to be here, if I’m going to be honest with you."

- Tim Hardaway Jr.

Hardaway Jr. has done a great job of not letting outside noise distract him and it's reflecting upon how aggressive he's been on the court. Hardaway Jr. is in the midst of a bit of a shooting slump so his percentages have dipped since the season started, but he's showcasing that he can be a high-volume scorer off the bench for Dallas whilst simultaneously adapting his shot diet to shoot less contested three-pointers this season.

Hardaway Jr.'s recent struggles can be partially attributed to the lack of spacing with Kyrie Irving out of the lineup for Dallas, as Hardaway Jr.'s defense and overall process on offense have looked much better this season.

If Dallas does wish to move on from Hardaway Jr. at this trade deadline don't be surprised though, as plenty of contenders would love a willing shot-creator off the bench who can get hot in a hurry. Hardaway Jr.'s contract is extremely movable as he's due $17.89 million this season, and if Dallas wishes to upgrade defensively, then trading Hardaway Jr. would probably be their best route toward getting there.

Hardaway Jr. has become a beloved fan-favorite since he's been in Dallas so it would assuredly be tough to part with him while he's in the midst of one of his better campaigns since he's been in Dallas, but the Mavericks may have to make some tough decisions if they want to be a contender this year.