5 Trades Mavericks must make to get rid of Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Dallas Mavericks have had Tim Hardaway Jr. on the trade block for well over a year. He is a key shot-maker for the franchise, but Dallas would prefer to have more defense around Luka Doncic. There have been plenty of trade talks, but nothing has materialized.

The Mavs are not done making moves. They would prefer to find a THJ trade before training camp, and Dallas plans to move on from JaVale McGee. The Mavericks would love to add a starting center, but that may not be realistic at this point in the offseason.

Dallas has limited draft capital, so they are not just giving it away to dump Tim Hardaway Jr. on another team. The Mavs want to get talent that can help them win right now in return. What type of deals could still be available?

5 Trades Dallas Mavericks must make to get rid of Tim Hardaway Jr.

5. Mavericks get Capela in Pascal Siakam blockbuster

Dallas is hoping to get involved in the Pascal Siakam blockbuster. If the Raptors trade him to Atlanta, the Mavericks would love to swoop in (subscription required) and get Clint Capela from the Hawks. Atlanta has a big man logjam already and things get more crowded with Siakam.

The Hawks would have to win the bidding war for the two-time All-Star, which is no guarantee. The Mavericks must wait and see what happens, but a hypothetical deal could look like this.

Dallas trades Hardaway Jr, JaVale McGee, and three second-round draft picks to get Clint Capela and Garrison Matthews. Capela instantly solves their starting center problem, and Matthews gives them another shooter coming off the bench.

The Hawks give up Capela, De’Andre Hunter, Matthews, and two first-round picks to land Siakam, and Toronto takes two role players and four draft choices in return for their star. Siakam is entering the final year of his contract or they would likely get more in this trade.

The Dallas Mavericks would just be a facilitator in this deal, but they could get aggressive in shopping Tim Hardaway Jr. on the open market.

4. Mavericks swap wings for defensive upgrade

The Nets discussed trading a wing at the beginning of the offseason to free up more minutes for Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson, but that has not happened. Brooklyn has a bit of a logjam. They could start Royce O’Neale or Dorian Finney-Smith next to Bridges, Johnson, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Nicolas Claxton. The other can come off the bench, but that leaves limited playing time for Ben Simmons, Lonnie Walker, and Darius Bazley.

Do the Nets look to clear that logjam by trading O’Neale or Finney-Smith for draft capital? The Mavericks will not give up their 2027 first-round pick because they cannot protect it. They would likely be willing to offer three second-rounders to get rid of Tim Hardaway Jr. and get a key defensive upgrade.

O’Neale would start for the Mavericks next to Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Grant Williams, and Dwight Powell. It would give Dallas a strong second unit of Jaden Hardy, Seth Curry, Josh Green, Maxi Kleber, and Dereck Lively III.

Green could take the starting gig from O’Neale during training camp, but both would play significant minutes on the wing and the addition of O’Neale improves the Mavs defense. They reached the conference finals in 2022 on the back of their D, and they must find it again if Dallas wants to make a deep run in the coming season.

This is far from a perfect trade for either side, but it is an option on the table. The Dallas Mavericks would prefer to trade Tim Hardaway Jr. for a big man.

3. Mavericks get JV from Pelicans

The Pelicans made Jonas Valanciunas available as he enters the final year of his contract. New Orleans wants to improve their rim protection, but what if they traded JV for a wing and three second-round draft picks in hopes of making a bigger splash? New Orleans is a sleeper team in a blockbuster trade, and they could be one step closer with a bit more draft capital.

The Pelicans ultimately say no here unless they have the bigger move lined up. This could become a reality before February’s trade deadline if New Orleans again struggles to stay healthy. Valanciunas will be on an expiring deal, and they could be looking to get anything for him. A role-player and three seconds might be the best offer available.

The Pelicans would benefit from THJ’s shooting after being 29th in 3-pointers attempted last season. Finding minutes on the wing could be difficult, but New Orleans needs a floor spacer around Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.

The Dallas Mavericks should get aggressive in looking for ways to trade Hardaway Jr. for a center as multiple teams are rumored to have big men on the block. Could they link up with a rival to get a beneficial deal done?

2. Mavericks get starting center

The Mavs were arguably the worst rebounding team in the NBA last season, and they struggled mightily to protect the rim. Dallas drafted Dereck Lively II at 12th overall, but he will not be ready to be the team’s starter. The Mavericks have not addressed their center issue.

The Clippers have put Ivica Zubac on the trade block, and they would love to move on from Marcus Morris’ expiring contract. LA is likely waiting to see if they can land James Harden, but another deal could happen before training camp gets underway.

This allows the Clippers to open up more minutes for Norman Powell, Terrence Mann, Mason Plumlee, and Russell Westbrook. They want to be title contenders. That means Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have to stay healthy, and the three second-round draft picks could help LA in a future trade.

The Dallas Mavericks get a new starting center and a capable forward that brings toughness. Luka Doncic and Morris Sr. had a dust-up in the playoffs a few years back. Do not expect it to impact this deal, though. Zubac and Morris Sr. would be part of the Mavericks rotation, but it is still not enough to trade an unprotected first-round draft pick in 2027. Is there a move that makes sense for the Mavs using that selection?

1. Mavericks finally get Bogdanovic

Tim Cato reported the Mavericks and Pistons discussed a deal (subscription required) involving Bogdan Bogdanovic at summer league. Tim Hardaway Jr., JaVale McGee, and Killian Hayes were all rumored to be in it. The sticking point was likely the draft compensation heading to Detroit. The Pistons want a first-round pick for Bogdanovic, but Dallas can only offer one completely unprotected.

The Mavericks should make this trade and go all-in because it is the only way to keep Luka Doncic long-term. The 24-year-old wants to win, and this bold move helps Dallas do just that in 2024.

The Mavs get both players they want off their roster and add two capable rotation pieces. Bogdanovic gives them a third scoring option and one that can defend multiple positions, space the floor, and make plays. Dallas is not finding a better number three anytime soon.

Yes, they could regret it in four years when the first-round pick conveys, but if Dallas still has Luka that pick could be in the 20s. The Mavericks should bet on themselves. The title race is wide open and getting Bogdan Bogdanovic pushes Dallas closer to the top of the Western Conference.

Winning a championship with Luka Doncic is going to take some bold moves. This would be one of them but do not expect the Dallas Mavericks to make it.

Will they trade Tim Hardaway Jr. this offseason? The Mavs will explore the market, so stay tuned to see what happens.