Tim Hardaway Jr.
The Dallas Mavericks have an important offseason staring them in the face. They have to maximize this chance to upgrade the roster before Luka Doncic has a rookie max extension contract kick in at the beginning of next season.
With this likely being the last time they will have wiggle room under the salary cap, they have to make it count. They began clearing more space, sending Josh Richardson to the Boston Celtics and getting Moses Brown back in return.
Tim Hardaway Jr. is their most important free agent and they should do everything to retain him. He has been their most consistent player alongside Doncic compared to Kristaps Porzingis. However, Dallas will lose him in free agency to the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit has begun putting together quite an impressive group of young players. Cade Cunningham was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, joining last year’s first-round picks Killian Hayes, Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart.
READ MORE: NBA Rumors: 1 perfect free agency target for each team
Adding a player such as Hardaway Jr. would provide Detroit with a steady veteran presence alongside Jerami Grant. His scoring and 3-point shooting would be a big addition to a team that was 25th in offensive rating last season and 22nd in 3-point percentage and 3-pointers made.
Detroit is still probably a year or two away from being playoff contenders, but a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament would certainly be within reach with a second-year jump from their youngsters and the addition of an established player such as Hardaway Jr.
