NBA Free Agent Profile: Tim Hardaway Jr.

Photo: USA Today Sports

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Shooting Guard |  6’6 | 25 yrs old | RFA | 14.5 ppg | 2.8 rpg | 2.3 apg

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Timmy Hardaway Jr. showed promising improvement in 2017 in his second season with Atlanta. Before being shipped to the Hawks in a trade, he was drafted by the New York Knicks in 2013. Last year, Hardaway plugged away 27 minutes per game. Those aren’t starter minutes but his production was closer to a budding Sixth Man rather than just a role player.

 

Hardaway ended the regular season in the starting lineup due to his late season offensive splash in the nightly boxscore. He’s known to put in relentless work during the offseason to improve on his gaps. Rick Carlisle loves those gym-rats. Over the past 1.5 months, Timmy Jr has been working on his jumpshot and iso-moves. Let’s take a glance at some of the GvB:

 
Good

Hardaway is an explosive offensive player and can shoot any shot on the floor, including attacking the rim. As a fan, it was fun watching his aggressiveness and confidence take over in the regular season. Especially in April. As his minutes continued to grow, so did his production and efficiency. Here’s a look at some of his impressive performances against better-talent (and DAL).

 

vs SA: 29 points, 6-7 from deep
vs DAL: 22 points, 5-8 from deep
vs BOS: 23 points, 2 assists, 3 steals
vs HOU: 33 points, 4-9 from deep
vs CLE: 36 points, 5-9 from deep
vs WAS: 29 points, 3 assists, 2 steals
vs BOS: 23 points, 5 assists
vs CLE: 22 points, 5 assists, 4-9 from deep

 
Bad

Even though Tim Hardaway Jr. continues to improve his efficiency, you want your shooting guard to have a better percentage from deep than 35.7%.

 

His defensive-competence doesn’t matchup with his abilities on the other end of the floor. It’s not necessarily the worst liability, but it needs improvement to do damage.

 

Hardaway’s numbers peaked at the very end of the regular season. In the playoffs, the buzz around him faded quickly. In 6 games, he never scored over 19 pts, shot 32 FG% and 26% from deep. You need to see players maximize on their late-season moment and carry over the firepower. Timmy Jr did not.

 

Assessment

At the right price, the Mavericks should sign Tim Hardaway Jr. Carlisle can be the key to unlocking this inconsistent young gem that NBA fans keep seeing glimpses of eliteness from.

 

The Warriors have changed the league forever. Offensive firepower is a must and Hardaway is an explosive player that can be unleashed by Carlisle. It’s been a small sample size, but Seth Curry and Harrison Barnes have reaped benefits immediately. Why not Timmy Jr?