DALLAS — Guard Tim Hardaway Jr. is opting in at $19 million for the final year of his contract with the Dallas Mavericks, while center Willie Cauley-Stein is moving on after declining his $2.3 million option.
A person with knowledge of the decisions confirmed both moves to The Associated Press on Thursday (Friday, Manila time) on the condition of anonymity because no announcements were planned. Cauley-Stein becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Hardaway shot a career-best 40% from 3-point range playing alongside 21-year-old sensation Luka Doncic as the Mavericks reached the playoffs for the first time in four years, losing to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round.
After coming over from New York in a trade along with headliner Kristaps Porzingis in February 2019, Hardaway averaged 19.3 points per game while becoming a full-time starter 14 games into his first full season with Dallas.
The 28-year-old Hardaway figures to keep that starting role with rookie first-round pick Josh Green of Arizona probably backing him up. It will be the final year of a $71 million, four-year contract Hardaway signed with the Knicks in 2017.
Cauley-Stein's impact was minimal after the Mavericks acquired him from Golden State about a month and a half before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the NBA season last March. He played 13 games, then opted out of the restart in Florida because of the impending birth of his daughter.
The 27-year-old Cauley-Stein averaged 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Mavericks. His career averages in five seasons are 9.6 points and 6.3 rebounds.
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