The Miami Heat made their first external addition since acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo moments after NBA Free Agency opened up, inking veteran guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to a one-year, $6.5 million deal.
Let’s break it all down and give this an official grade, shall we?!
Grading the Tim Hardaway Jr. addition for the Miami Heat:
More work still needs to be done. But the Heat have done a good job trying to remedy arguably their biggest need — 3-point shooting — after acquiring the two-time MVP.
They drafted Ryan Conwell, a 40-plus percent 3-point shooter in two of his final three collegiate seasons; they re-signed Simone Fontecchio, who shot nearly 40 percent from deep over his final 30 games; now, they acquire Hardaway, coming off a career-best shooting season … at age-34.
Hardaway averaged 13.5 points and 2.6 rebounds across 80 games in his lone season with the Denver Nuggets. He shot 44.7 percent from the floor with career highs in 3-point percentage (40.7 percent), effective field goal percentage (59.1) and true-shooting percentage (62.4).
To support a frontcourt spearheaded by Adebayo and Antetokounmpo, two players who aren’t natural floor spacers, shooting and shot creation are quite important. Hardaway doesn’t quite fit the latter, but the Sixth Man of the Year Finalist shot well above league-average last year, albeit alongside the best passer in the sport in Nikola Jokic.
For what it’s worth, Giannis Antetokounmpo is a respectable downhill playmaker as well. But where the questions begin to set in are 1.) his contract 2.) Skillset and overall impact 3.) Age (regression?) and 4.) postseason viability.
The last part will be figured out in April. But Hardaway has, historically, been a disastrous postseason performer. He’s shot 33.0 percent on 5.2 triple tries across 54 career postseason games, with just one season where he’s shot above league average from distance, per Basketball Reference’s adjusted shooting metrics.
While Hardaway is a very good shooter, both off movement and in spot-up situations, he also doesn’t provide much impact elsewhere. He’s a terrible defender, and he’s not a good passer or rebounder. Miami has enough to cover up for him defensively. But if he’s not knocking down shots, he’s unplayable.
And he’s in his mid-30s, when many begin to regress. He can still be productive, but it’s unlikely that Hardaway will shoot as well as he did last year. He’s very streaky.
All that said, acquiring him for $6.5 million isn’t bad business. If he plays poorly, it’s a movable contract at the deadline to free up some relief. If not, it becomes a bargain. In a 7th or 8th man role off the bench, the Heat could do worse, although eating up some of the mid-level exception could be viewed as controversial depending on what else the Heat accomplish.
All in all, I don’t think this is a bad move. This was a bad free agency class, and Hardaway was one of my favorite realistic targets. But there are genuine questions, and this is the problem you run into when you’re operating under a hard cap.
They quadrupled down on their need for shooting, which is a good thing! But Miami must find a way to plug the rest of its holes with fewer resources and squeeze every last bit of what’s left to raise this team’s floor and ceiling.
Grade: B
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If it’s about golf, we got ’em! 😛
“Does market matter [for LeBron James]?” – @maxkellerman
“As long as there is indoor and outdoor golf, I think he’ll be fine.” – @RichPaul4
Collins to Pistons is nice for them off the bench. Was hoping he would give a hometown discount.
hopefully det loses duren though.they have last licks so he prob resigns there.looks like theyll lose tobias though.adam made sure u cant sign everybody
Stormin’ Norman two years and $45 from Bulls. Good for him. Went for that bag and can’t blame him. His last chance.
yeah $ before jewelry.he takes cut this year gets bag next year here hes getting fitted for jewelry
He has a ring and that is enough for him. At his age, and with his injury season, this was a smart move for him.
He’s getting paid. He deserves more. As far as $ for jwelry, why don’t more max players give up some of their $40-$50-$60M per year contracts? Why? For the exact same reason. They want the $ and the rings. 9 out of 10 want the $ first. Greedy mofos. Brunsons are few and far between.
I’m happy for Norm. He’s one of the good guys. He’s not a spring chicken. He’s collateral damage related to the Giannis signing. I don’t blame him at all for making a wise decision.
He is really shooter player, but a polarizing player. He can destroy the opposite team, but he can also play worse then Niko did last season. At Dallas, for every great game, there was 2 average ones, 3 bad and 4 disastrous.
I agree with you. He’s a streak shooter (either hot or cold) and a below average defender. Sound familiar? Pelle is a better all around player and defender. I would take Larsson any day.
Yes, but you need a shooting specialist, if nothing else, to force the opposing team to cover him close…. Pelle and Wiggins deserves close cover only in case, if they hit 2-3 threes in the roll. Both are more dangerous getting to the rim.
When you put Bam and Giannis together with Wiggins, Mitchell and Larsson, you are sending a strong message that your priority is defense. 3 point shooters like Hardaway and Fontecchio can come in off the bench. If James decides on Miami, that will further reinforce the Heat’s defense first identity. If Beal decides to sign with Miami he could be the starting PG.
It sounds like Grimes got what I was thinking. I said we might be able to squeeze him for $8-$10, but he’s probably trying to get $12. Reports sound like he’s getting $10. I would expect Simons to be looking for at least that, so probably not in the cards, especially as Bron drags his ass all the way into next season.
It’s a one year deal, which is ideal. The team will have money next season to plug holes with better quality. This season is about building the foundation, see where the cracks are, then fix them and continue to build. Plus, this team will need a good solid playoff heartbreak. Those are just facts in the NBA life of an eventual championship team.
That’s reality. This year will be exciting but we may not go deep, maybe we get to the second round or even the ECF. Next year is the year where we should truly contend for a title.
probably true. But still, it should be a 50 wins season and play off.