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Looking at the Dallas Mavericks' payroll, Tim Hardaway Jr.'s contract is one of the highest. This season, the 30-year-old guard is owed $19.6 million. This is good for the third-highest on the team behind Luka Doncic and Spencer Dinwiddie.
While his cap hit is large this year, Tim Hardaway Jr.'s contract does not get better as the years go on. During the 2021 offseason, he inked a four-year $75 million deal to stay with Dallas. He made $21 million last year, with the salary declining less as the years go on. Hardaway Jr. will not hit free agency until after the 2024-25 season. His contract does not include any kind of performance-based bonuses.
After missing most of last season due to injury, THJ has returned to form this season for Dallas. Through 39 games, he is averaging 13.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. On top of that, the former first-round pick is shooting 36.4% from 3 on over seven attempts per game.
Tim Hardaway Jr.'s contract is great for Dallas Mavericks
Even with the first two years being near or above $20 million, Tim Hardaway Jr.'s contract is great for the Dallas Mavericks. His declining salary in later years gives the team much-needed flexibility in the future.
Right now, Luka Doncic is in the midst of an MVP-level season. However, it's clear he will need help if he wants to turn Dallas into a true contender. He had a running mate in Jalen Brunson, but he departed for New York in free agency last summer.
The Mavericks are currently in the hunt for a star to pair with their generational point guard. If they want to pull off a big move, they will require cap space. That being said, having contracts like Hardaway Jr.'s opens the door down the road to making a splash as Luka gets ready to enter his prime.
Comparing Tim Hardaway Jr.'s contract to his previous ones
Looking back at his entire career, Tim Hardaway Jr. has done well for himself in the NBA. It took some time, but his career earnings have already surpassed $115 million.
His first contract with the New York Knicks was only for $6 million. But after showing some good potential, they offered him a $70 million extension in 2017. Hardaway Jr. then followed that up by signing a similar deal with the Dallas Mavericks in the summer of 2021.
To put Tim Hardaway Jr.'s pay into perspective, he will make more in this contract than his father did during his entire 13-year career in the NBA ($46.6).
