5 Reasons the Mavericks aced the Tim Hardaway Jr. for Quentin Grimes trade

3. Freed up money to re-sign Derrick Jones Jr.

When Tim Hardaway was struggling to be the x-factor in the Playoffs for the Mavs, another wing played into the x-factor role when Hardaway Jr. couldn't and that was Derrick Jones Jr. Offensively and defensively, Jones Jr. stood out for the Mavs when it mattered the most in the Playoffs.

With Hardaway Jr.'s contract now off the Mavs' hands, the team can try and make Jones Jr. a contract to make him stay. The Mavs keeping Jones Jr. is the team's top priority in the summer. Hardaway Jr. had a $16.2 million cap hit; Grimes had a cap hit of nearly $4.3 million. The Mavs will look to put some of the money away for Jones Jr. as he was a fearless player that Mavs fans quickly grew to love.

Jones Jr. averaged the fourth most points on the Mavs with 9.1 points per game in the playoffs, and also averaged one block per game, too. Jones Jr. quickly fit into Dallas' schemes with being an outstanding two-way player. It's not easy during the playoffs to have a player stand out both ways.

If the Mavs don't re-sign Jones Jr., it would be a gut punch for the franchise and fans. Jones Jr. loved being an underdog with the Mavs and it helped give the Mavs confidence as they fed off of it during their run to the Finals. Keeping Jones Jr. is something the Mavs desperately need to do and Nico Harrison needs to offer Jones Jr. a contract.