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

Now that the Dallas Mavericks' 2023-24 season is officially over with their loss in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics, it's time to start looking at how they can improve their squad this offseason.

Dallas tremendously over-performed considering that tons of media thought they wouldn't even make the playoffs, and the sky is the limit for this team over the next few years.

With Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving at the core, the Mavs have the potential to return to the Finals as soon as next year, and I fully expect Nico Harrison to be aggressive this offseason in building the roster around this star duo.

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

Harrison has never been afraid to make a big splash during the summer in the past, and this summer will be no different. They have the primary core around Doncic and Irving set in stone for the next few years, and a few more complimentary pieces could put them in a position to win their first NBA Championship since 2011.

Dallas has several players who will become free agents this summer and several players who could be moved on the trade market.

With all of that being said, here are six Dallas Mavericks players who definitely won't be back next season.

6. Jaden Hardy

After the Dallas Mavericks drafted Jaden Hardy in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft, every Mavs fan couldn't wait to see him play. Under Nico Harrison, Dallas has done extremely well in the draft, and Hardy was a huge steal in the second round.

He ended up having a great rookie season as he averaged 8.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 43.8 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from downtown. Hardy had an excellent finish to the year, and it was clear that he would be a piece in the rotation moving forward.

At the start of this season, Hardy was in and out of the rotation, and inefficiency plagued him. All of the progress he built from the prior season seemed to have plateaued, and his future role in Dallas looked in question.

He followed this up with an excellent stretch during the middle of the season, proving that he should be a part of the rotation, but Jason Kidd pretty much alluded to Hardy not having a role in the rotation for the rest of the season.

Kidd wasn't unfair by doing this, as he gave Hardy every chance to prove that he belonged in the rotation, especially at the end of the season, and he never really stepped up.

Inconsistency and trying to do too much within the offense hurt Hardy, and it'll be interesting to see if he is moved in a trade this summer. A young team or even a contender could be interested in trading for Hardy, and he could be a good sweetener in a deal if the Mavs make a swing for a big fish.

Hardy could be someone Dallas holds on to, but this may only be smart if they can trade someone else who will make an appearance on this list later on. He was up and down during the playoffs, and it'll be interesting to see if they view him as a long-term piece or not.

5. Markieff Morris

When the Dallas Mavericks signed Markieff Morris to a one-year deal over the summer, it was a move that confused many fans considering how small of an impact he made in the half of the season he spent in Dallas following the trade with Brooklyn.

Morris averaged 4.5 points per game while shooting 42.4 percent from the field and 36.4 percent from downtown, but he only played in eight games. He was battling a couple of injuries during this stretch in Dallas, but it didn't seem like he was someone who was going to stay around for the long term due to his lack of production.

Little did Mavs fans know that Morris had confidence he would remain in Dallas right when that season ended, and he played a huge role from the bench this season. Morris averaged 2.5 points per game this season while shooting 35.7 percent from downtown, and his biggest impact for the team came off the court.

Morris stepped up and spoke in the locker room during one of the team's bad stretches, and he is always the first one to encourage his teammates off the bench.

Despite his phenomenal leadership and veteran presence, the Mavs could decide to sign someone who could provide even some of an on-court impact. The Mavs needed another forward with size who could play multiple positions after Maxi Kleber went down with injury, and having another big forward who can switch on defense is ideal.

The Mavs may bring Morris back for his great vibes and leadership alone, but it wouldn't be a shock if they let him walk in favor of a shooter or forward who can switch and defend in space.

4. Dante Exum

When looking back at Dante Exum's 2023-24 season, you have to split the season into multiple parts as Exum looked like multiple different players throughout the regular season. He had stretches as a solid bench piece, a stretch as a dominant starter, and a shaky end of the regular season.

These struggles from the end of the regular season carried over into the playoffs, and Exum became unplayable at times despite his improvement during the Finals. He was not the same shooter he once was, struggled as a ball handler, and looked like he lost almost all of the confidence that he built in the regular season.

Exum couldn't be trusted in the playoffs even after having several huge clutch moments during the regular season, and now the Mavs have a decision they have to make.

Do they judge Exum off of the amazing regular season he had or the awful postseason that all fans say? Anyone's guess should be the former over the latter, but teams across the NBA could be interested in trading for Exum to be their backup point guard.

Exum proved that he can run the second unit and even be a trustworthy starter, but the Mavs may have to use him in a trade to land a big fish if they go that route.

All Mavs fans would likely love to see him back, especially considering his inspiring story of how he battled his way into the NBA last summer, but it wouldn't be a shock if teams from around the NBA are calling the Mavs to trade for Exum due to his team-friendly contract.

The Mavs may be forced to throw him into a big trade (if they make one), and although it would be hard for fans to see him go, it could be worth it in the long run depending on who they land.

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.

2. Josh Green

Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green along with several other players on this list seem like they will likely return, but just due to his tradeable contract and high upside, he is someone who could be moved if the Mavs decide to make a big trade this summer.

This season, Green averaged 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from downtown. Green remains one of the best shooters on the team and his defense was excellent at times during the playoffs, but his inconsistency remains a problem.

Green seemingly never strings together solid back-to-back performances, and his injuries over the last few seasons could start to be concerning. He has battled multiple elbow injuries and an ankle injury over the last two seasons, and the Mavs may decide to throw him into a big trade to land a third star (if they go that route), and no one would be shocked if teams are calling about him this summer.

Teams were calling the Mavs last summer about Green, and the Mavs refused to include him in a potential trade around the time of the draft for Clint Capela. I could see the Mavs using a similar mindset with Green this summer, but he may just be the piece they have to trade if they make a big swing.

He's young, he plays extremely hard, and he is locked up on a team-friendly deal until after the 2026-27 season. Teams around the NBA could be drooling at the chance to acquire Green, and only time will tell if the Mavs hold on to him or not. I expect him to be back, but if Dallas makes a big trade, Green will be coveted

1. Derrick Jones Jr.

Along with Markieff Morris, Derrick Jones Jr. is the only free agent on the Dallas Mavericks roster. Last summer, Dallas ended up signing Jones Jr. to a minimum one-year contract, and that was the best decision they could have made.

Jones Jr. quickly became the starting wing over Josh Green, and his production on both ends of the floor was excellent all season long. This season for Dallas, Jones Jr. averaged 8.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from downtown.

Jones Jr.'s defense was phenomenal and he quickly became a key part of the rotation, but his performance this season may have priced him out from the Mavericks re-signing him.

It was reported that Jones Jr. wants to return to Dallas during the offseason, but just like any free agent, he is expected to test the open market. Due to his excellent play during the playoffs, and selfless attitude, he may just earn himself a big contract.

The Mavs want to re-sign Jones Jr. too, and only time will tell just how high his value is on the open market. He proved that he is going to be an elite role player in the NBA for a long time, and if Jones Jr. wants a big deal, he may just go elsewhere.

This isn't to say that the Mavs are completely out of the race, but it's more saying that Jones Jr. has played his way to some big money this summer. Both sides want a reunion, but the Mavs will be limited when it comes to how much they can pay to retain him.

For all the latest on the Dallas Mavericks all offseason long, stay tuned.