The Dallas Mavericks are led by superstar Luka Doncic but have key role players around him. Tim Hardaway Jr. is one of them. He provides solid defense and is a great scorer for the Mavs. While he is not a top scorer he averaged 16.6 points and shot 39 percent from 3. He has a chance to get paid in the off-season if he can step up in the playoffs.

Here are 3 things Tim Hardaway Jr. must do in the 2021 NBA Playoffs to boost his free agency stock.

3. Tim Hardaway Jr. must shoot 40 percent or better from 3

A big part of Tim Hardaway's game is his ability to shoot the 3 ball.

Against a great defensive team in the Los Angeles Clippers it will be vital for Tim Hardaway to provide floor spacing. Although he shot 39 percent during the regular season, he will need to elevate that in the playoffs. Showing teams that your game can improve in the playoffs is key to boosting free agency stock.

Shooting and scoring is such a big part of Hardaway's game and the Mavs will need it against the Clippers. The Clippers are a great 3 point shooting team themselves so it's important for them to match it. While Doncic is a great scorer, he is also a great passer which will lead to looks for Tim Hardaway.

If Hardaway improves his 3 point shooting in the playoffs it will drastically improve his free agency stock.

2. Contain Paul George or Kawhi Leonard

In the first round matchup the Mavericks will be playing the superstar duo of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. Tim Hardaway will likely see some minutes on these superstars and he has a huge chance to step up. Although it is hard to stop these players if he can contain him it will heavily improve his free agency stock. Showing the ability to defend is something teams covet and he could get a big contract.

The NBA is built for players that can shoot the 3 and play great defense now. These players fit so well alongside superstars so it is important for Tim Hardaway to show his defensive ability.

Tim Hardaway needs to show effort and make some stops defensively in this series to show his defensive potential.

1. Scores close to 20 points per game

Throughout his career Tim Hardaway has showcased his ability to score. The Mavs as a team have a tall task if they are going to beat the Clippers.

The Mavericks will need someone to step up in scoring on the offensive end and Tim Hardaway could be that player. He can score at all 3 levels and will be key in this series against the Clippers. With Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis getting most of the defensive attention, Hardaway Jr. has a great chance to step up.

All three of this things will help bolster Hardaway Jr.'s free agency value. It will also be key for the Mavericks to move on to the next round of the playoffs. The Clippers defeated the Mavericks in round one of the playoffs last season in 6 games. Although they didn't win the series, the Mavericks showed that they can compete with them. With another year of chemistry under for this team, they have a great shot of defeating the Clippers.

Look for Tim Hardaway to step up and prove his worth and bolster his free agency stock.