TRUEFAN REACTION : KNICKS SIGN TIM HARDAWAY JR

Written By Kyle Crabbe


Over the last weekend the New York Knicks announced the re-signing of one-time Knick's draft pick Tim Hardaway Jr. Hardaway spent his first two NBA seasons with the Knicks in the 2013 and the 2014's season. He spent the last two seasons playing with the Atlanta Hawks after being traded there by the Knicks during the 2015 NBA draft. Hardaway was signed to a 4 year deal worth 71 Million Dollars by the Knicks front office currently ran by Steve Mills with the recent departure of previous president Phil Jackson. Mills excited about the signing said this about Hardaway, “ Bringing back Tim to his original NBA home is an exciting time for him and this franchise,...As a versatile wing whose game continues to improve, he will fit right into the core of players that make up a roster emphasizing youth, athleticism, accountability and unselfishness".



Tim Hardaway Jr is a talented scoring guard and the son of NBA legend and five-time All-Star Tim Hardaway Sr. Hardaway, 25,  had a very accomplished college career at the University of Michigan and afterwards was drafted by the New York Knicks 24th overall in the 2013 NBA draft. Hardaway achieved considerable success in his time with the Knicks, with being named to the All-NBA Rookie First Team in 2013 and playing in the NBA Rookie vs Sophomore Stars Game also while a member of the Knicks. However, Hardaway was traded during the 2015 NBA draft for the draft rights for PG Jerian Grant. In two seasons with the Hawks, Hardaway showed much growth and promise. In the previous season with the Hawks Hardaway was one of the NBA's most improved two-way players posting a line of 14.5ppg/45fg%/ 35%3fg while playing in 79 of the team's 82 games.


GREAT


Tim Hardaway is a promising youth wing player that is coming off his best pro season in the NBA. He is a proven scorer that possess great long range shooting ability. Hardaway has great size and athleticism for the wing position at 6'6 200lbs. In Hardaway's time with the Atlanta Hawks he worked on his defensive mindset and defensive skills. Hardaway has become an intriguing two way player that will be exciting to watch for years to come in the NBA.




CRITICISMS

A) Money is way too much

The main objection with the Knicks signing of Tim Hardaway Jr is the value of the contract, being 4 years at 71 Million. The issue being that, that is starter player money for a reasonably unproven player. Many are automatically relating poor contracts that the NY Knicks have signed in the past to this newly signed Hardaway Jr deal. A fair comparable in my opinion is to Washington Wizards Wing Otto Porter Jr , who was in the same 2013 NBA draft with Tim Hardaway and was the 3rd overall pick. Porter just re-signed this offseason also, with the Wizards for 4 years at 106 Million Dollars. The Tim Hardaway contract details look as this:

2017-18: 16.5m 2018-19: 17.32m 2019-20: 18.15m 2020-21: 18.97m


If we compare that to other players at Hardaway's position in the NBA:
Shooting Guard
  1. James Harden 28.3mil
  2. Demar DeRozan 27.7mil
  3. C.J McCollum 23.9mil
  4. Dwayne Wade 23.8mil
  5. Bradley Beal 23.7mil
  6. J.J Reddick 23mil
  7. Nicolas Batum 22.4mil
  8. Victor Oladipo 21mil
  9. Jimmy Butler 19.3mil
  10. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope 18mil


B) Didn't The Knicks Draft Him, Then Trade Him, Only to Re-Sign Him

Much of the criticisms of the Tim Hardaway signing stem from the perception of dysfunction around the NY Knicks organization. Tim Hardaway was once drafted by the Knicks in the 2013 NBA Draft only to be traded to the Atlanta Hawks during the 2015 NBA Draft for a draft pick that turned out to be PG Jerian Grant, whom was then traded last season in a deal with the Bulls that netted the Knicks PG Derrick Rose( who is now currently a free agent). The fact that the Knicks were ran by another individual(Phil Jackson) when Tim Hardaway was first traded from the Knicks, to being ran by Steve Mills currently while bringing him back, does show that the Knicks have went in different directions within the last two seasons.



  1. Only got better under Atlanta Coaching Staff

Another popular criticism of the Tim Hardaway Jr signing is that his professional progress was much to do with the change of environment. This cristicism lays at the idea that the New York Knicks is such a poor organization they will ruin Hardaway rather than help him ascend in the NBA. I guess these same Knicks have hurt Kristaps Porzingis from becoming a decent player in the NBA.








TrueFan Verdict

I feel like the signing of Tim Hardaway Jr, has shown the dark cloud surrounding the New York Knicks. The immediate negative and pessimistic reaction to the signing of Hardaway by the media and so call Knick fans alike have been enormous. Young players are paid off their potential!! Without Hardaway playing one minute with Porzingis and Ntilikina, too many are already predicting the failed results. With all that being said I see great hope and reason for excitement in the signing of Tim Hardaway Jr and I'll give 5 quick reasons.

  1. Hardaway is a NBA baby and a son of a great NBA player. I believe these players have a better opportunity filling lasting significant roles on basketball teams for their seasoning and experience. Comparables are Kobe Bryant, Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, Seth Curry, Devin Booker, Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr, Austin Rivers, Justice Winslow. Hardaway falls into that category of predigree and presents a opportunity to become a all-star player.
  2. Hardaway is and has always been a great shooter. In the modern day NBA I believe he will continue to thrive because he is a long range shooter and the league continues to increase 3-point shooting every year.
  3. Hardaway has proven already he can handle the bright lights of Madison Square Garden and playing for the New York Knicks. I find this as being very important because not every player is built to handle the immense light and scrutiny that comes from playing with the New York Knicks. He can also help the young Porzingis and First Round Pick Frank Ntilikina with these New York pressures.


  4. Hardaway is close to New York Knick current Superstar-in-limbo Carmelo Anthony. Carmelo Anthony has been mentor to Hardaway since Hardaway has came into the NBA. Hardaway considers Anthony a big brother and voiced his interest in Carmelo being a teammate again here in New York. My hope including that the Knicks can keep Hardaway and Melo together in New York.
  5. Even if Carmelo is to be traded elsewhere, the signing of Hardaway Jr creates a young core of potential great two-way players in PG Frank Ntilikina 6'6, SG Tim Hardaway Jr 6'6, SF Damyean Dotson 6'6, PF Kristaps Porzingis 7'3, Willy Hernangomez 6'11. All of which can shoot well long range, athletic lengthy defenders, that are versatile scorers. Hardaway completes a promising youth core the Knicks haven't had since the late 80's with Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, Gerald Wilkins, Kenny Walker and Mark Jackson.










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