Gordon Hayward Trade to Mavs: Would Dallas Give Up Jaden Hardy?
DALLAS — After a 38-44 finish to their 2022-23 campaign, the Dallas Mavericks made a variety of changes to the supporting cast around Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. However, the process of adding the right players may not be complete.
The center position has remained a focus of speculation regarding the Mavs this offseason. After being linked to Deandre Ayton and Clint Capela in trade rumors, the team is set to enter the upcoming season with a center bullpen that consists of Dwight Powell, Richaun Holmes, Dereck Lively II, and the option of going small in spurts with Maxi Kleber or Derrick Jones Jr. Aside from the five spot, what else could be the right change?
In a recent trade proposal from Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley, the Mavs would acquire Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Tim Hardaway Jr., Richaun Holmes, and Jaden Hardy. The focus of the proposal was not Dallas, rather the intent was for the Hornets to add a talented young player to develop long-term in Hardy.
Before getting into the specifics regarding the basketball fit for either side, it's important to take into context what the big picture vision would be for a deal of this nature. The Mavs would essentially part with Hardaway and Holmes to clear salary cap spending room for the 2024-25 season to take on Hayward's expiring contract. The asset involved would be to include Hardy to appeal to the Hornets to take on future salary.
The Mavs would quickly need to deal with the financial circumstances of working out a new contract with Hayward, given he is set to earn $31.5 million playing out the final year of his four-year, $120 million deal. Keep in mind, Dallas also needs to pay Josh Green, who will be a restricted free agent next summer barring a contract agreement being reached.
Hayward appeared in 50 games for the Hornets last season, averaging 14.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 31.5 minutes per game. He was impactful from inside the 3-point line, but did shoot just 32.5 percent from deep after combining to shoot 39.6 percent over his previous three seasons.
Given the Mavs' need to continue to improve defensively, it's important to consider, Hayward will be 34 in March and has never been lauded as much of an impact player defensively. However, in theory, adding size on the wing would be a beneficial outcome for Dallas after finishing the 2022-23 season as an undersized unit at most positions.
Last season, the Mavs deployed Hardaway at the three spot often alongside Doncic and Irving after the midseason trade — putting the defense in a precarious position. Depending on the opponent, Hardaway found himself having to try to fend for himself against bigger wings. However, the time appears to be now for Josh Green to prove that he can fill this role, especially after serving as the top on-ball stopper for the Australian national team at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The Mavs did add needed strength to their wing rotation by acquiring Grant Williams in a three-team sign-and-trade after using the NBA Draft to bring in Olivier-Maxence Prosper. However, it remains to be seen how often either player will spend at the three spot next season, given Williams is likely to start at the four, while Prosper will need to earn a role as a rookie.
Availability is a legitimate concern for Hayward that any potential trade suitor would need to take into account. The most games that Hayward has played within a season since the start of his 2019-20 campaign has been 52. He's played in 50 or fewer games in each of his last three seasons, creating real concern about availability.
With the Mavs needing to maximize depth around Doncic and Irving, adding a wing while moving Hardy raises more questions given the G League Ignite alum immediately took on a larger role when either of his All-Star teammates missed a game. Seth Curry, who was signed in free agency, could step into a larger role in these situations, but he would be a stopgap option considering he's 33. Doing so would limit the long-term potential of the backcourt rotation. Dante Exum is another option to fill a backcourt role, but he faces limitations as a creator within the half-court.
On the surface, adding a bigger option on the wing would be a beneficial move for the Mavs. However, parting with Hardy — a young player the team has been developing since last summer — could prove to be a regrettable decision in the future.
