On June 29, Beijing time, the NBA Mavericks and the Pistons reached a deal, the specific content is: the Mavericks sent Hardaway Jr. + 3 future second-round picks (2025 second-round picks + 2028 two second-round picks) to the Pistons, and the trade got Grimes, the reason why the Mavericks did this is to release salary space and facilitate the renewal of Jones Jr.'s contract. Grimes, the No. 25 rookie in 2021, was drafted by the Clippers to be traded to the Knicks and was traded to the Pistons last season. And Hardaway Jr. has been complaining that his playing time with the Mavericks is limited, so that he can get enough room to play when he comes to the Pistons.
The 32-year-old Hardaway Jr.'s contract does not expire until the summer of 2025 and his salary is $17.9 million for the 2023-2024 season and $16.19 million for the next season. Hardaway played in 79 games in the regular season this season, including 12 starts, and he played an average of 26.8 minutes per game, scoring 14.4 points + 3.2 rebounds + 1.8 assists + 0.5 steals + 0.1 blocks, shooting 40.0% from the field, 35.0% from three-point range, and 85.0% from the free throw line. The true hit rate is 54.0%.
In the playoffs this season, Hardaway Jr. played a total of 14 games, averaging 12.7 minutes per game, scoring only 4.4 points + 1.8 rebounds + 0.4 assists + 0.4 steals + 0.1 blocks, shooting 37.0% from the field, 35.0% from three-point range, and 50.0% from the free throw line.
In the 2023-2024 season, Grimes only played 6 games for the Pistons due to injury, averaging 19.2 minutes per game, scoring 5.3 points + 2.0 rebounds + 2.3 assists + 0.8 steals + 0.7 blocks, shooting 21.4% from the field, 14.3% from three-point range, and 90.0% from the free throw line; In the 2022-2023 season, he played in 45 games with the Knicks, averaging 20.2 minutes per game, scoring 7.3 points + 2.0 rebounds + 1.2 assists + 0.7 steals + 0.1 blocks, shooting 39.5% from the field, 36.3% from three-point range, and 70.0% from the free throw line.