Does Tim Hardaway Jr. Still Have a Future with the New York Knicks?
Just a year ago, Tim Hardaway Jr. was viewed as an untouchable prospect by the New York Knicks, but after an underwhelming sophomore season under the new regime, that could change this summer.
Hardaway's 2014-15 season wasn't terrible by any means, but it was certainly disappointing compared to his All-Rookie showing in 2013-14.
It's not that Hardaway regressed; it's that he failed to improve in any significant way, leading to concerns that his ceiling may not be particularly high. He put up just 11.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game this season, all of which were marginal improvements over the year before.
His shot selection and shooting efficiency were particularly problematic, with his field-goal percentage dropping from 43 percent to 39 percent. Beyond the arc, his shooting dropped from an already-shaky 36 percent to 34 percent.
Not scoring at a high level isn't necessarily the end of the world, but Hardaway's struggles on the offensive end unfortunately served to highlight how limited he is in other areas. He brought little to the table as a passer, defender or rebounder. The Knicks can get by with that if he's shooting 40 percent from downtown—but not when he's hurting the team on both ends.
Chemistry was also an issue with Hardaway, with the guard reportedly clashing with Carmelo Anthony, according to ESPN.com's Chris Broussard, early in the season and initially struggling to find minutes in the triangle under head coach Derek Fisher.
Both Langston Galloway and Alexey Shved—two players who weren't even on the Knicks' opening-day roster—ultimately outplayed Hardaway this season, which is concerning but may also help the Knicks.
This potentially allows New York to trade Hardaway this summer, knowing capable young alternatives are in the backcourt. Shved, of course, is a free agent, but moving Hardaway would free up the money to bring him back without eating into the $25.5 million the Knicks already have to spend this summer.
Admittedly, Hardaway did start to look better toward the end of the year, a sign that he may have finally gotten used to his role in the triangle offense. In his last six games, he averaged 15.3 points per game while shooting 40 percent from downtown, leading the Knicks to three victories that weren't particularly helpful in their otherwise flawless tanking job.
Shooting is clearly Hardaway's main strength, and as he struggles to create his own shot, it's possible that an improved surrounding roster could bring the best out of him. This season may have shown that Hardaway is destined to be a supplementary player, but that doesn't mean he lacks value to the Knicks.
With that said, even if Hardaway has retained some value as a prospect, the Knicks showed by trading Iman Shumpert midseason that they are happy to clear out everyone from the last regime—aside from Carmelo Anthony—in their quest to rebuild.
A trade package with Jose Calderon could help the Knicks in that regard. Calderon's first year in New York was marred by injuries, and at this point it's safe to say the remaining two years and $15.1 million on his contract aren't desirable. Adding Hardaway to the mix would sweeten a potential deal and allow the Knicks to save up to $8.6 million for free agency.
Depending on how the draft lottery pans out, the Knicks could trade down with Hardaway as part of a deal and potentially acquire a major veteran.
Ultimately, the question isn't whether or not Hardaway can grow into a good player; it's whether or not he's going to get a chance to do so with the Knicks. Unless they can find a way to move Calderon without him (or settle for waiving Calderon with the stretch provision), it appears that letting Hardaway go could be in their best interests.
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