Some of that financial maneuvering could happen before Thursday’s trade deadline. The Mavs have been shopping shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., who is owed $34 million over the two remaining years on his contract, since last season, sources told ESPN. That is expected to continue leading up to the deadline, as second-year general manager Nico Harrison hopes to upgrade a 24th-ranked defense that took a significant hit with Finney-Smith’s departure. – via Brian Windhorst @ ESPN
“I’m just trying to stay positive, stay in the moment as much as I can, do whatever I can to help the team that I’m on right now — and hopefully moving forward,” Hardaway told ESPN after Monday’s shootaround in Utah. – via Brian Windhorst @ ESPN
And that fallback plan isn’t exactly a sign that the Mavs are taking extension negotiations with high-scoring center/power forward Christian Wood too seriously. Sources said Wood, who is on an expiring contract, is also being shopped in the trade market. – via Brian Windhorst @ ESPN
