6 Dallas Mavericks who definitely won't be back next season

3. Tim Hardaway Jr.

Dallas Mavericks longtime guard Tim Hardaway Jr. is in trade rumors seemingly every single summer, and I don't expect this offseason to be any different. Offseason rumors from last summer went as far as to say the Mavs were "expected" to deal Hardaway Jr., but the deal never ended up happening.

At the beginning of the season, the Mavs seemed in luck that they never traded him as he was in the thick of the Sixth Man of the Year conversation, but his play after the trade deadline was horrendous. On the season, Hardaway Jr. averaged 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.5 steals per game while shooting 40.2 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from downtown.

These numbers would have been much higher if Hardaway Jr. could have kept up his hot shooting from the start of the year, but he just couldn't. Hardaway Jr. went into a deep and concerning shooting slump, and although he had some good games in the playoffs, he's not someone who I expect back.

Like many of the other players on this list, I would expect Hardaway Jr. to be moved in a deal if the Mavs make a swing for a big fish. He is on an expiring contract, he would likely be needed to help the money match up, and a team could believe in his scoring ability off the bench.

This year, Mavs fans saw Hardaway Jr. at his best and at his absolute worst, and I don't think anyone would be shocked if he is throwing on a different jersey for opening night next season. He had great moments over the years, but the second half of his 2023-24 season was beyond disappointing.