Lakers among favorites to trade for Mavericks veteran sharpshooter

The 2024 NBA Draft is less than 24 hours away, and the Dallas Mavericks are a team that is no stranger to making draft night trades.

Last year, Dallas made two moves. One move involved them trading back two spots to select Dereck Lively II while the other move had them trade back into the first round to select Olivier-Maxence Prosper. The year before that, Dallas made a draft day blockbuster trade for Christian Wood.

Dallas could be looking to make another big splash in this year's draft, and one player in particular seems more likely than everyone else to be moved this summer.

Lakers among favorites to trade for Tim Hardaway Jr.

The Mavericks are looking to trade Tim Hardaway Jr. this summer, and after his poor performance in the playoffs and in the second half of the season, this should come as a shock to no one.

Dallas has been trying to trade Hardaway Jr. for multiple seasons now, and this summer gives them the best chance to move him as he is on an expiring contract. Hardaway Jr. was frustrated with his role with the Mavericks, and it looks like he needs a fresh start.

The Los Angeles Lakers are among the favorites to trade for Hardaway Jr. (according to Bovada), along with the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, and Washington Wizards. A Hardaway Jr. trade seems inevitable at this point for the Mavs, and the Lakers would be an interesting destination for him.

Last season, some fans thought that Kyrie Irving could leave Dallas to join the Lakers and team up with LeBron James, and now the two teams could engage in a trade this summer around Hardaway Jr.

The Lakers lack a pure sharpshooter, and although Hardaway Jr. struggled in the playoffs, a change of scenery could allow him to get back to his old self.

During the regular season, Hardaway Jr. averaged 14.4 points per game while shooting 35.3 percent from downtown on high volume, and he was even in the running for Sixth Man of the Year at early points in the season.

Only time will tell where Hardaway Jr. lands, and trade talks between the Lakers and Mavs could heat up over time depending on their interest in him.

For all the latest on Tim Hardaway Jr. and the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, stay tuned.