DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - A big decision awaits the Mavs and Tim Hardaway Jr. this offseason.
Hardaway will enter free agency after the final year of the four-year, $70.9 million contract he signed with the Knicks in 2017 came to an end when the Mavs fell to the Clippers in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs on Sunday.
"If you were to talk to anybody in this organization and anybody that’s around me every single day, they would definitely say that I love it here (in Dallas)," Hardaway said during his exit interview with the media Monday. "Regardless if I was coming off the bench or if I was starting, I really felt like this was home for me. And I really felt that I created a niche for myself here to be a part of something bigger than myself."
The Mavs have privately expressed their desire to keep Hardaway for the long haul. The biggest question they must ask themselves this offseason is what will be his role should they sign him to an extension?
Hardaway addressed coach Rick Carlisle's decision to bring him off the bench at one point during the season for the betterment of the team, which he took in stride. He ultimately made his return to the starting lineup on a permanent basis beginning with the Mavs road win in Miami on May 4. That decision came a short time after his 42-point performance in the Mavs win in Detroit, a game in which he started.
"That meeting I had with coach Carlisle. Him coming up to me and letting me know what was best for the team (to move him to the bench). And me letting him know that (I'll do whatever I need to do for the team to win). If you need me to start or if you need me to come off the bench, I'll do that as well," Hardaway said. "I think that was one of the turning points of the season for me as an individual. Just being able to be a man about it, sacrifice what I had to do in order for this team to be successful on my part. And putting the team first instead of (myself)."
But was that just a temporary in-season adjustment Carlisle made with this current roster? Or does the organization believe he's more than a six-man?
If you ask the 29-year-old what role he sees for himself next season and beyond, the answer is an easy one.
"If I were to look back on the season, being a starter is where I'm more comfortable. I think I've shown that throughout the year. That's what I'm going to try to look forward to in the near future. I feel like I made my niche as a starter."
According to Statmuse, Hardaway averaged 15.1 ppg on 44.4% shooting from the field and 38.5% shooting from deep in 39 games off the bench this season.
In 31 starts, he averaged 18.6 ppg on 45% shooting from the field and 39.8% shooting from three-point range. In his seven playoff starts, he averaged 17 ppg on 41.6% shooting from the field and 40.4% shooting from behind the arc.
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