DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks made an impressive run to the NBA Finals before suffering a 4-1 loss to the Boston Celtics. One of the team's key players along the way was Derrick Jones Jr., who seized his chance to play for the team after becoming available as a free agent in late summer.

According to league sources, opposing teams believe the Mavericks will try to trade Tim Hardaway Jr. to use the mid-level non-taxpayer exception and re-sign Derrick Jones Jr., who will become a free agent after playing through a one-year contract worth the veteran minimum.

Currently, the Mavericks can only offer Jones a starting salary of $5.2 million if they remain in a position where they can only use the mid-level taxpayer exemption. If they release the mechanism to reach the mid-level non-taxpayer exemption, they could offer Jones a first-year salary worth up to $12.9 million.

Jones averaged 8.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game, setting career highs in single-season minutes and points. He shot 48.3% from the field, 34.3% from beyond the arc and 71.3% from the free throw line. He became a full-time starter on the wing in March and started the Mavericks' 22 postseason games.

Hardaway largely fell out of favor with the Mavericks during the postseason after being considered a candidate for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award earlier in the season. Too small to defend bigger wing players alongside Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, his integration into the team against top teams has proven difficult. He will make $16.2 million in the final season of his four-year, $75 million contract.

During his final media interview on Friday, Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison called re-signing Jones a “1A and 1B priority” this offseason, and the team's goal for the summer is to bring back the best “seven or eight” players in the rotation.

“I don't know how we're going to do it, but he's a priority… He's a priority one, 1A and 1B,” Harrison said. “I think he's a good fit for our team. He loves it here and obviously we've got to figure out the dynamics for him to stay. But that's a priority and we're going to do what we have to do to make it happen.”

Jones appreciates his role with the Mavericks, being used as a true wing player rather than playing a spot or two higher as a power forward or center. During the team's postseason run, he told MavericksGameday.com that he finally found his “natural position” in Dallas.

“Do I like playing my natural position? Yes, everyone does, but it's a challenge when you're a 6'10 player like me, playing the five, and you're going up against 6'10 guys that weigh 250 pounds,” Jones told MavericksGameday.com during the second round of the playoffs. “It's a disadvantage, especially when I'm trying to block out the best wingers and push with my feet to cover them. Obviously, I like it better here, I cover my position, I play my position, and if my team wants me to do something different, then that's how it is.”

Jones will have options in free agency after such a productive season as a key defender for the Mavericks. His athleticism was essential to Dallas' transition to a faster game, often acting as a fallback option for Doncic's forward throws while also showing improvement as a long-range shooter when spreading the court. Jones developed a strong connection with Irving as a DHO threat on the opposite side and was a short-handed backup option for Doncic against blitzes.

Stay at MavericksGameday for more coverage of the Dallas Mavericks during the NBA offseason.

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