Before Tim Hardaway Jr. departed for Detroit following his trade to the Pistons, the veteran guard posted a final farewell to the Dallas Mavericks organization and fans on Saturday.
“These past 5 seasons have been memories I will never forget. I want to start by thanking all my teammates. I love you all and we will always be brothers,” Hardaway Jr. wrote on Instagram. “Thank you Dallas for not only making me a better player, but a better person!”
“The city and organization have been so welcoming to me and my family, and although things didn’t end the way I wanted, I am forever grateful and will always love you. Thank you and God bless.”
The Mavericks announced full terms of the deal to acquire guard Quentin Grimes on Saturday.
In addition to Hardaway, Dallas sent three second-round picks to Detroit, including a 2025 pick from Toronto, a 2028 pick from Miami and another 2028 pick that will be an underdog between Charlotte and the Los Angeles Clippers.
Hardaway was acquired from New York in the Kristaps Porzingis trade during the 2018-19 season by Dallas, where he averaged 15.2 points and shot 37% from the 3-point line during his six-odd seasons with the Warriors.
Hardaway spent most of last season as the Mavericks’ sixth man on the bench, averaging 14.4 points in 79 regular-season games, but after the team made moves to acquire P.J. Washington and Daniel Gafford before the trade deadline in February, Hardaway began to slip down the starting rotation.
Hardaway’s role was further reduced during the Mavericks’ run to the NBA Finals, where he averaged 4.4 points in 12.7 minutes per game.
In addition to Grimes, the Mavericks also made moves this offseason to acquire guard Klay Thompson and forward Naji Marshall.
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