This summer's Dallas Mavericks were able to fight their way out of the West, where the best players are in the West, and become the champions of the West. It was something that most fans didn't expect before the start of the season. In large part, thanks to mid-term trading before the trade deadline. The Mavericks have sent away Seth Curry and Grant Williams through operation, and have been joined by Gafford and PJ Washington, giving the Mavericks an epic strengthening of the wing defense, as well as the interior line.
Coupled with Doncic's consistent performance and Irving's good offensive ability, the Eastern European duo carried the banner of the Mavericks' revival, the Mavericks first sank the Clippers, then repelled the Thunder, and finally tamed the Timberwolves. For the first time, Doncic led the team to the Finals. But it's a pity that even if Doncic's personal ability is strong, two fists are hard to beat four hands. Irving's performance in the finals was average, which was indeed unexpected.
On the Celtic side, even if Porzingis hangs the exemption card, he can still be crushed by strength. In the end, he defeated the Mavericks 4-1 and won the championship. Kobe Bryant once said that second place is the biggest loser. Although, the Mavericks' performance this season has exceeded their season goals. But with only three wins away from the championship, how can this be unwilling?
But in the end, the loss, although it has something to do with Owen's poor performance, can't dump the pot on others. Among the role players, Tim Hardaway's performance has been heavily criticized. The offense can't score, the defense can't defend either, and he is a disaster on the field, so much so that Kidd just abandoned it! Hardaway Jr.'s performance, sorry for Doncic's efforts, so much so that some people say that without Hardaway Jr., the Mavericks can at least win one more game.
The latest news is that Hardaway Jr. has been traded. According to Woj of The Athletic, the Mavericks sent Hardaway Jr. + 3 rounds to the Pistons in exchange for Grimes. It is reported that the three second-round picks are one second-round pick in 2025 (from the Raptors) and two second-round picks in 2028.
This season, Hardaway Jr. played 79 games for the Mavericks, averaging 14.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.8 minutes per game, but the shooting rate was insufficient, only 40.2%; In the playoffs, Hardaway Jr. averaged 4.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game, shooting 37.9% from the field.
Hardaway Jr. is considered a high-paid and incompetent person, this season, Hardaway Jr.'s salary is $17.9 million, and he has one year left on his contract, with a salary of $16.19 million for the 2024-25 season. After the Lone Ranger abandoned him, the luxury tax was still a little over, but there was a full middle class quota, about more than 10 million, which may be a foreshadowing.
And Grimes, who replaced Hardaway Jr., is a young man, born in 2000. He was the 25th pick in the first round in '21 and was drafted by the Clippers to send him to the Knicks.
Before the trade deadline last season, the Knicks sent him to the Pistons. But the Knicks performed okay, averaging 7.3 points, 2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.2 minutes per game. But after going to the Pistons, he only played 6 games, averaging 5.3 points, 2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 19.2 minutes per game, shooting 21.4% from the field and 14.3% from three-point range. It's a little unsuitable, and the Knicks want to come back and train it personally.
Now, the Mavericks need to solve a problem, and that is that the team does not have a third consistent scoring point after the Eastern European combination, and the forward defense is relatively weak, and there is also a lack of an outside shooter. But after Hardaway Jr. left, the Mavericks made room for it, and Doncic was happy to touch it.