5 Trades to clear the Utah Jazz’s big man logjam
By Tyler Watts
3. Jazz get shooter and pick from Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are looking to trade Tim Hardaway Jr. and the $34.1 million owed to him over the next two seasons, but they have been unable to find a partner this offseason. He is an elite shooter that can score 15 points per game, but his defense and overall impact on winning can be questioned.
The Mavericks are still searching for a starting center and the Jazz could help them on two fronts by giving them a quality starting big man and allowing them to dump THJ’s contract. Dallas has limited draft picks available, but they could offer a far-out second to make this move happen.
Hardaway Jr. would crack the Jazz’s rotation and his value will go up drastically next summer as he becomes an expiring contract. Utah could spend additional money this season to pick up a second-round pick and flip THJ later for additional assets.
Danny Ainge will want a first-round draft pick here, but the Dallas Mavericks are unwilling to part with one, or Hardaway Jr. would already be off their roster. He is still a valuable rotation piece, but Dallas has a logjam of their own after signing Seth Curry and bringing back Kyrie Irving.
This is a trade for the Utah Jazz to consider, but they likely prefer getting involved in a larger deal like the Damian Lillard blockbuster.