Tim Hardaway Jr.: Latest News, Trade Rumors and Speculation on Knicks Star
Since arriving in New York, Tim Hardaway Jr. has gained a fair share of admirers among Knicks fans for his microwave scoring ability. It turns out he also has fans outside the Big Apple.
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Pistons Eyeing Hardaway
Monday, June 22
Ian Begley of ESPN.com reported that the Detroit Pistons have interest in trading for Hardaway, possibly using guard Brandon Jennings as bait. It's unclear whether the Knicks are willing to move Hardaway or even have interest in Jennings, who is recovering from an Achilles injury.
Hardaway, 23, averaged 11.5 points and 1.8 assists last season. Splitting time as a starter and reserve, the former Michigan star failed to show any real improvement from his rookie campaign on either end of the floor. His shooting numbers dipped across the board, finishing at 38.9 percent overall and 34.2 percent from three-point range.
Rumors were also rampant about Hardaway's strained relationship with star Carmelo Anthony, which included a December shouting match. The Knicks were off to a franchise-worst start at the time and wound up finishing 17-65, the second-worst mark in the NBA. His trajectory slowed a bit with Knicks fans as well, as showed by this tweet from Grantland's Jason Concepcion:
A Hardaway-Jennings swap is interesting on a number of levels, albeit less so because of the latter's injury status. There's no questioning a healthy Jennings is a better player than Hardaway. For all of his foibles, Jennings is a much better passer and shot-creator than Hardaway has ever shown.
The flip side of the argument is that Hardaway is cheaper ($1.3 million versus $8.3 million) and guaranteed to be playing opening night. The history of players with Achilles ruptures is onerous, to the point it'd be a surprise to see any team take a chance on Jennings until he proves his health.
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