**Mavericks Trade Tim Hardaway Jr. and Picks to Pistons for Quentin Grimes**
The Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons have finalized a trade sending veteran wing Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks to Detroit in exchange for swingman Quentin Grimes, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The three draft assets include Toronto’s 2025 second-round pick and two 2028 second-rounders. Dallas, having previously traded its own 2028 second-rounder, will send Miami’s pick and the least favorable of the Clippers’ and Hornets’ selections for that year to Detroit.
Marc Stein had first mentioned the potential deal on Tuesday, noting that trading Hardaway was crucial for the Mavericks to re-sign starting small forward Derrick Jones. Dallas only holds Non-Bird rights on Jones, restricting them from offering more than 20% above the minimum without using their mid-level exception.
By trading Hardaway’s $16.2 million expiring contract and acquiring Grimes (who will make about $4.3 million next season), Dallas will create nearly $15 million in cap space below the first tax apron. This will allow the Mavericks to utilize the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception (projected to be about $12.9 million) on Jones or another player.
The Mavericks gain financial flexibility and an intriguing young player in Grimes, who showed promise in the 2022-23 season by averaging 11.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 29.9 minutes per game (71 games), with a .468/.386/.796 shooting line. Although Grimes saw reduced minutes in New York last season and was limited to six games with Detroit due to a knee injury, he will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
Meanwhile, new Pistons president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon has expressed the team’s willingness to absorb unwanted contracts if accompanied by valuable assets. While the previous regime viewed Grimes as a potential keeper, Langdon prioritized the draft picks acquired in this trade.
Hardaway’s value as a player is notable, coming off a season where he averaged 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 26.8 minutes per game over 79 appearances, with a shooting line of .402/.353/.852. Despite a limited playoff role, his days in Dallas were seen as numbered.
It’s uncertain if the Pistons plan to keep Hardaway for the 2024-25 season, but given their interest in adding veterans and shooting, he could be a fit. Hardaway is a career 36.0% three-point shooter. Detroit is still projected to have about $50 million in cap room after acquiring Hardaway, reports ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
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