Tim Hardway Jr. Trade: Could Mavs Land Pistons' Bojan Bogdanovic?
This NBA offseason has been a busy one for the Dallas Mavericks, as they've executed several key roster moves, including re-signing eight-time All-Star Kyrie Irving, signing Seth Curry for his third stint in Dallas, trading for rookies Dereck Lively II and O-Max Prosper during the draft, and pulling off a sign-and-trade for Grant Williams, who was a key 3-and-D piece for the Boston Celtics over the last few years.
At the end of the 2022-23 season, one where Dallas finished with a disappointing 38-44 record while missing the postseason, Mavs head coach Jason Kidd said, "there will be a lot of new faces [next season]," and he apparently wasn't bluffing.
Despite all the moves the Mavs have made, though, they might not be finished, as they still have the $12.4 million MLE to use as well as several other trade options to consider. When it comes to trades, could the Mavs circle back to the Detroit Pistons about potentially acquiring veteran forward Bojan Bogdanovic?
The Mavs have been linked to Bogdanovic in several reports over the last six months stating Dallas' interest trading for him. And according to a recent report by NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavs are expected to trade Tim Hardaway Jr., a guy who already has a good relationship with Pistons' guard Cade Cunningham, at some point this summer. See where we're going with this?
Multiple reports earlier this year stated that the Pistons were adamant on receiving at least one first-round pick if they were to trade Bogdanovic. Perhaps that stance is softening, though, as opposing teams have obviously not met that asking price (at least, that we know of), and Bogdanovic, who is 34 years old, isn't getting any younger and could have some health concerns going forward. Hardaway is four years younger, and he will make $34 million over the next two seasons, where Bogdanovic will make $39 million in that same timeframe. Here's what we're thinking as far as a hypothetical Mavs trade proposal goes:
Mavs receive: Bojan Bogdanovic | Pistons receive: Tim Hardaway Jr., JaVale McGee, three second-round picks
Bogdanovic, despite being older than Hardaway, is still the better player, as he averaged 21.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from deep in 59 games for the Pistons last year. Hardaway averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists while shooting 40.1 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from deep in 71 games for the Mavs, who were just 1-10 in games he didn't play in last season.
If the Pistons can't get a first-round pick for Bogdanovic, perhaps receiving several second-round picks and a productive, younger and cheaper player in Hardaway could work. Bogdanovic might be a little too old to stick around for Detroit's rebuild, and Hardaway is an excellent 'pro's pro' for the Pistons' young core to learn from.
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