Report: Detroit Pistons potential trade destination for Tim Hardaway Jr.

According to Mark Stein, the Detroit Pistons have emerged as a potential trade destination for Dallas Mavericks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. Dallas has begun their offseason roster reshaping following a loss in the NBA Finals to the Boston Celtics. Hardaway would be a salary dump of sorts, opening up some cap space for GM Nico Harrison.

“Detroit has emerged as a potential trade destination for Dallas’ Tim Hardaway Jr., league sources tell @TheSteinLine,” Stein said via X.

Hardaway finished as the Mavericks’ third-leading scorer this season, averaging 14.4 points per game, shooting 40.2% from the field and 35.3% from deep. With those numbers, you would not expect Dallas to trade him away. But Hardaway fell out of the rotation during the NBA Playoffs and saw his role diminish.

One year remains on a four-year deal Hardaway signed with the Mavericks ahead of the 2021-2022 season. His cap hit is set to be just over $16 million and getting most, if not all, of the money off the books will help Dallas make other free agent signings to strengthen the squad.

Stein later reported the trade is still a work in progress, with the framework being built. However, Stein says third-year player Quentin Grimes could be heading to Dallas in the potential trade.

“A full potential trade construction has not yet emerged, but league sources say there have been scenarios discussed in which Quentin Grimes would land in Dallas,” Stein said via X.

Grimes began his NBA career with the New York Knicks but joined the Pistons this past season in early February. His career stats show an average of 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Grimes played his college ball with both the Kansas Jayhawks and Houston Cougars.

If the trade included both Hardaway and Grimes, there would be a homecoming of sorts for both players.

Hardaway played his college play with the Michigan Wolverines and would return to the Great Lakes State with the Pistons. As for Grimes, he was born in Houston and would get back in Texas, just a few hours north in Dallas.

As Stein reported, the deal is not done as Dallas and Detroit are still in discussions over the trade. It’s certainly gaining traction though, with both Hardaway and Grimes potentially having new homes for the 2024-2025 NBA season. A scenario the players would certainly be happy with, you have to imagine.