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.

9. Bojan Bogdanovic

Bojan Bogdanovic is someone who has been linked to the Dallas Mavericks often recently, and Detroit could finally fold and ship him off this season before the trade deadline.

There were multiple instances this offseason that Bogdanovic was linked to Dallas, one of which was from right before the draft and once after the draft, but no move has materialized yet. Despite Bogdanovic being the Pistons' best scorer consistently, they could look to move him to open up more minutes for their young guards.

The Pistons have Ausar Thompson, Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Killian Hayes, and Marcus Sasser all on their roster. Considering that the Pistons aren't competitive, it may be a better move to ship Bogdanovic to a contender rather than him take minutes from their young core.

Dallas would definitely have to attach something else in a trade with the Pistons centered around Tim Hardaway Jr. and Bogdanovic, and the Mavs could consider moving Josh Green in a deal if they don't extend him this offseason.

Killian Hayes is also someone who has been mentioned in rumored trade talks with Dallas and Detroit, and maybe they could revisit those talks and send both Hayes and Bogdanovic to Dallas.

Last season for the Pistons, Bogdanovic averaged 21.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 41.1 percent from three.

His fit in Dallas would be interesting, as they don't need another scorer per se, but he would make Dallas' offense better and add another shooter next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

8. Royce O'Neale

The Brooklyn Nets have received "a number of calls" for Royce O'Neale, and the Mavs making a move for him would be massive.

Just like the previously mentioned Alex Caruso, O'Neale would give Dallas an elite defender. Standing at 6-foot-6 with a sturdy frame, O'Neale could plug in as Dallas' starting wing next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

He would be one of the best defenders on the team immediately, and his shotmaking ability would flourish next to Doncic and Irving. Last season for Brooklyn, O'Neale averaged 8.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting 38.9 percent from distance.

He would get consistent open looks playing next to Doncic and Irving every night, and he would strengthen Dallas' defense immensely.

Landing O'Neale at the trade deadline would be ideal for Dallas, as he is on an expiring contract, but he may come at a steep price. Contenders from all around the league will be calling Brooklyn about O'Neale at the deadline if they are shopping him, and he would make a big effect on any team trying to make a final playoff push.

Although O'Neale is a great player and brings elite defense and shooting to the floor, a teammate of his may be an even better fit on the Mavs, and that leads us to the next player that the Mavs could replace Tim Hardaway Jr. with by the trade deadline.

7. Dorian Finney-Smith

Most Dallas Mavericks fans' hearts were broken when they traded him as part of the Kyrie Irving trade, but this trade deadline could present a chance for Dallas to bring him back.

Last season, Finney-Smith averaged 8.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 33.7 percent from downtown. This was his lowest mark since the 2018-19 season, and he struggled once he got to Brooklyn.

If the Nets don't see a foreseeable future with Finney-Smith, they could look to trade him at the deadline, and Dallas would likely be one of the first teams on the phone. He was one of Luka Doncic's best friends on the team, and his journey from going undrafted to turning into a starter in the playoffs was a sight to see.

Finney-Smith is also known for elevating his game during the playoffs (during his time with the Mavs), and Dallas leaned on him heavily for his defense. Although Dallas does have Josh Green and Olivier-Maxence Prosper as two of their top wing defenders right now, bringing back Finney-Smith would be a no-brainer.

The cost to acquire Finney-Smith may be outside of Nico Harrison and company's budget, but bringing him back to Dallas would be something that every Mavs fan would love.

6. Reggie Bullock

Reggie Bullock was in the deal that landed Dallas Grant Williams, but he was surprisingly released at the end of last week and ended up signing with the Houston Rockets (not official yet).

Now that Bullock has signed with another team, the Mavs can pursue him at the trade deadline if they want to. Houston likely won't be competitive this season, so they could be looking to move Bullock if the right deal presents itself.

Bullock played for the Mavs for two seasons and averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 37.0 percent from deep. These numbers don't jump off the page, but Bullock's value as a defender was invaluable.

He would oftentimes guard the opponent's best guard and provide intensity on that end of the floor. As mentioned before, Dallas is low on guard defenders, and Bullock's loss could end up hurting more than people realize.

In the 2022 NBA Playoffs, Bullock was key to Dallas' success. He averaged 10.6 points per game and shot 39.7 percent from three. He was also playing nearly 40 minutes per night, and Dalals threw him at the star guards that they faced.

Trading for Bullock would be a good move if the Mavs can buy low, and it would be an easy adjustment for him to return to Dallas.

5. Buddy Hield

Buddy Hield of the Indiana Pacers has been thrown into trade rumors recently, and the Dallas Mavericks are one of the teams that are rumored to be interested.

Hield has a home in Dallas, and him getting moved to the Mavs likely be something that he wants. He is one of the most underrated players in the NBA right now, and his shooting next to Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving would be an interesting fit.

Last season for the Pacers, Hield averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 42.5 percent from downtown. He is statistically one of the greatest shooters of all time, and he would get some of the most open looks of his career playing next to Doncic and Irving.

Hield isn't an elite defender, which makes many people doubt his potential fit in Dallas, but his offensive talent is undeniable. Dallas would have two of the greatest statistical shooters of all time on the same roster in Seth Curry and Hield, and it would be dangerous when both of them were on the floor at the same time.

Getting Hield may be easier said than done, as the Pacers seem to want draft capital, but Dallas could throw something together at the trade deadline that entices Indiana since he is on an expiring contract.

4. Zach Lavine

Zach Lavine is someone that the Dallas Mavericks have been linked to in the past, and now could be the perfect time to pursue him if the Bulls are struggling at the trade deadline.

Last season for Chicago, Lavine averaged 24.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. Lavine has consistently been an elite scorer over the last five seasons, but would a trade to Dallas make sense for both sides?

Lavine still has four years left on his contract and is making over $175 million over the next four years if he opts into his player option. That is not a contract that Dallas would want to take on, and it would be interesting to see how they make it work.

Lavine wouldn't be the best fit in Dallas, as they already have two offensive-minded guards in Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, but their attraction to him in the past can't be overlooked. Lavine can play off-ball and on-ball, and be a secondary scorer next to Luka Doncic.

This trade would be extremely challenging to pull off without including Kyrie Irving, but if Lavine tries to force his way out, maybe the Bulls could throw in a sweetener for Dallas to take on his massive contract.

3. Malcolm Brogdon

Malcolm Brogdon was in the trade that sent Jrue Holiday to the Boston Celtics, and the Blazers could end up shopping him at some point this season.

Last season for Boston, Brogdon averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 0.7 steals per game. He was a key piece for Boston off the bench, and he could help any contender with defense, secondary scoring, and 3-point shooting.

Brogdon showcased his elite shooting last season as he shot 44.4 percent from downtown. This was the best 3-point shooting season of his career and was a great bounce-back season.

In the season before, Brogdon struggled tremendously as a shooter and shot 31.2 percent from three. If he can maintain the efficient shooting that he displayed last season, he'll be an even more valuable asset.

Brogdon ended up winning Sixth Man of the Year last season, and his defense and balanced offensive game would be a great fit in Dallas. The Mavs lack a defensive-minded guard off their bench, and Brogdon would be a great leader for that unit.

Brogdon is under contract for two more seasons, and making a move for him now would line up perfectly with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving's timelines. Dallas is all in on winning now, and this move would make their bench unit more balanced.

2. Killian Hayes

Killian Hayes is nowhere near the level of player that everyone else on this list is, but his previous inclusion in the Mavs and Pistons trade talks is enough to put him on this list.

Hayes had the best season of his career last season, as he averaged 10.3 points, 6.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He started in 56 games for Detroit, and his ability to facilitate and defend could be intriguing for Dallas.

If Dallas were to trade for Hayes, it would likely be because they were landing Bojan Bogdanovic as well, but Hayes would be an intriguing asset too. He is only 22 years old and would be a good rotation piece now while also being someone Dallas can develop for the future.

The talent for Hayes is there, but the problem is staying consistent. He has all the tools to be a reliable backup point guard in the NBA, and if he can improve his efficiency, he will be the prototype of what the Mavs want their leader of the second unit to look like.

Hayes had eight games in which he scored over 20 points last season, and in five of those games, he dished out at least seven assists. Dallas would be a good spot for him, but waiting for him to develop isn't something that the Mavs would be too thrilled about.

1. Clint Capela

Clint Capela is obviously not a guard, but the point of this article isn't necessarily just players that play the same position as Tim Hardaway Jr.

It's about anyone that Dallas could receive in a trade that includes Tim Hardaway Jr., and Capela seems like one of the leading candidates. Capela was in trade rumors this summer with Dallas, but the Mavs didn't want to send Atlanta Josh Green in a trade for him, so they backed out.

Dallas still needs a starting center, and Capela would be that and more.

Last season for Atlanta, Capela averaged 12.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. He would be the rim protector that Dallas has been looking for and would be a great pick-and-roll target for Luka Doncic.

Capela seemed like the most intriguing trade target for Dallas this summer, but the emergence of Dereck Lively II could cause the Mavs to pull back on the reins when it comes to potential trades. Lively II has already been promised a starting spot for the early preseason, and all signs are pointing to him being the starter on opening night if the preseason goes well.

Capela would obviously be an upgrade over Lively II, but Dallas would try to be as frugal as possible if they were to make a trade for Capela.