10 players Mavericks might replace Tim Hardaway Jr. with by the trade deadline

Tim Hardaway Jr. was in trade rumors all offseason, and (temporarily) shut down the trade rumors by saying he feels secure in Dallas at Mavs Media Day.

Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said that he thinks Hardaway Jr. could be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year in a recent interview, and when members of the media asked Hardaway Jr. about it, he seemed like he was caught off guard.

Kidd later said that he hadn't talked to Hardaway Jr. about his role, but other members of the coaching staff have. He just hopes that Hardaway Jr. embraces his role off the bench.

10 players Mavericks might replace Tim Hardaway Jr. with by the the trade deadline

The vibes are a bit puzzling surrounding Dallas' situation with Hardaway Jr., and he could end up being disgruntled soon and the trade rumors could start flying again.

Here are 10 potential players the Mavs could replace Hardaway Jr. with by the trade deadline.

10. Alex Caruso

Alex Caruso isn't someone who is in trade rumors often, but if the Chicago Bulls are struggling when the trade deadline rolls around, they could look into moving him.

Caruso has turned into one of the best defensive guards in the NBA over the last few years, and he'd be a perfect fit on Dallas' bench. The Dallas bench needs another good defender, and Caruso would be that and more.

Last season for the Bulls, Caruso averaged 5.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. He also shot 36.4 percent from downtown and was a reliable shooter when needed.

Having Caruso on the floor paired with Luka Doncic and or Kyrie Irving would be a perfect situation for the team. Luka or Kyrie could take the worst offensive guard on the floor, while Caruso guards the elite guards of the league.

Landing Caruso may be a pipe dream, but he would be the perfect player for Dallas to pursue.