Tim Hardaway Jr.: Can He Replace DeMarre Carroll’s Production?
Tim Hardaway Jr. was acquired by the Atlanta Hawks via a trade with the New York Knicks on Draft night in June, in exchange for former Notre Dame PG Jerian Grant, whom the Hawks selected with the 19th pick.
A former standout at the University of Michigan, Tim Hardaway Jr. had an up and down tenure while playing at Madison Square Garden, failing to live up to his full potential. The 23-year-old Hardaway’s offensive game showed flashes of brilliance at times, but was devoid of any consistency. Even though he wasn’t consistent last season in a Knicks’ uniform, Tim Hardaway Jr. still shot 38.9 percent from the floor and 34.2 percent from beyond the arc, showing Hawks’ fans what he can do now that he is in the system.
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Tim Hardaway’s defense was even larger issue during his time in New York. Charlie Rosen, a former assistant for Phil Jackson and writer for ESPN.com, has spoken to Jackson in regard to Hardaway’s play. Rosen outlines Phil Jackson’s scathing observations about Tim Hardaway, Jr., stating:
"“Perhaps the worst part of Timmy’s game is his ugly defense. We want guys to beat their man to the screen, to wedge themselves between the screen and their man — something that Timmy rarely, if ever, did. Instead, he kind of threw his head back and acted as though it was somebody else’s responsibility to correctly handle the situation.”"
While these remarks are certainly indicting, there is no reason for Hawks’ fans to take these to heart when speculating on how Tim Hardaway Jr. will perform as an Atlanta Hawk.
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For one, Tim Hardaway Jr. is now in a completely different system than he was in New York. The Hawks’ offensive scheme is predicated on creating mismatches and open shots, allowing the young guard the opportunity to become a key cog in the rotation. Hardaway will not be forced to create his own shot or try to much on the offensive, allowing him to become a more patient shooter and an improved defender.
A potential comparison to Tim Hardaway Jr. is San Antonio Spurs shooting-guard Kawhi Leonard. Though Leonard is of course a former NBA Finals MVP and was recently signed to a lucrative extension by the Spurs, both he and Hardaway possess similar physiology and skill-sets. Leonard stands at 6’7” and 230 lbs., while Hardaway is 6’6” and 210 lbs. The difference between both players is that Leonard started his career in a system that fit his skill-set, and had one of the best coaches in the game to aid in his development.
“Hardaway will not be forced to create his own shot or try to much on the offensive, allowing him to become a more patient shooter and an improved defender.”
Now in 2015, Tim Hardaway Jr. finally finds himself in a similar system and with a similar coach to Kawhi Leonard. Of course it is way too early to speculate that Tim Hardaway Jr. is the next Kawhi Leonard (I am by no means making that assertion), but it is reasonable to assume that Atlanta Hawks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer and the Hawks system will galvanize Hardaway into becoming a better player and a contributor on a contending team. Bud was also key in acquiring Leonard and developing him as a player while in San Antonio, making it clear that he may feel the same way about Hardaway.
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Mike Budenholzer engineered the trade for Tim Hardaway Jr., meaning that he has had his eyes on him for a while, believing that he can become an integral part of the Hawks’ offense. With the proper coaching and correct system, Tim Hardaway Jr. can rejuvenate his career. The question is can he replace DeMarre Carroll‘s production?
By himself, the answer is no. Tim Hardaway Jr. will require time to acclimate to Budenholzer’s scheme, and there are certain to be struggles as he ascertains the nuances of the Hawks offense. Of course, there is the issue of his defense, which will also take time to develop. Evaluating Hardaway at this stage is very much like assessing the potential of a draft pick; whether or not you are of the belief that his career in New York was an outlier or an indicator of Hardaway’s future performance with the Hawks.
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Thabo Sefolosha, if healthy, projects to start at the small forward position for the Atlanta Hawks in 2015-2016. Tim Hardaway Jr. will most often come off the bench. If Hardaway can excel in the system and become an effective scorer, Sefolosha will be able to focus on his defense, alleviating the need for any offensive production from the veteran swingman. Though I have already made the Kawhi Leonard comparison with Tim Hardaway Jr., I see his role being similar to that off Iman Shumpert in Cleveland: providing offense (not defense) off the bench.
With both Sefolosha’s defense and Hardaway’s offense, I believe that the loss of Carroll will not be an issue for the Hawks this coming season, contrary to what many pundits think. Patience is key with Tim Hardaway Jr.. His acquisition was a low-risk, high reward signing by Bud and the Hawks, with the chance to pay dividends this season. The Hawks will not only be a better team for Tim Hardaway Jr., the Hawks will be an improved team with him on the roster.
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