Dallas Mavericks trade Tim Hardaway Jr., acquire Quentin Grimes from Pistons
Dallas Mavericks trade Tim Hardaway Jr., acquire Quentin Grimes from Pistons
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday morning that the Mavericks have traded Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks (2025 and two 2028) for Detroit’s Quentin Grimes. It was first reported by Marc Stein that the Pistons had emerged as a potential suitor for Hardaway Jr., who has been with the team for the last six seasons. He then followed up with his initial reporting, mentioning Grimes as a potential return for the Mavericks.
It became quite evident that the Mavericks-Hardaway Jr. relationship had run its course when Hardaway fell out of the Mavericks rotation as the season progressed. The deal allows Hardaway to return to the state of Michigan, where he played in college. This also gives the Pistons much-needed shooting and a veteran presence in the locker room. Hardaway has always performed at his best in the Little Caesars Arena, and now he can call it home. He will also have a familiar face in the front office in Dennis Lindsey, who was hired by the Pistons as a front office executive after working with the Mavericks last season.
This deal brings a young, athletic wing to Dallas with lots of upside. Grimes, 24, is still on his rookie-scale contract, which will save the Mavericks quite a bit of money, allowing them to make an offer to resign Derrick Jones Jr., who is a free agent this summer. According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the Mavericks could only offer $5.2 million to Jones before the trade and can now offer him a significant portion of the $12.9 million taxpayer midlevel exception.
Grimes was traded to Detroit from the New York Knicks and played just six games after suffering an injury. He averages 8.5 points per game on 37% shooting from behind the arc in his career thus far. He is 6’4” with a 6’8” wingspan. His athleticism and quick feet allow him to guard the point of attack, which will be a coveted asset in Dallas.
When the Denver Nuggets traded Reggie Jackson and three second-round picks to the Charlotte Hornets during the second round of the draft, it became apparent that the Mavericks would have to provide draft compensation in the form of second-round picks to offload Hardaway’s contract. However, unlike the previously mentioned deal, Dallas walks away with a young asset with a high upside.
This trade is certainly the end of an era in Dallas and a move toward making it back to the NBA Finals.