It’s almost as if NBA Free Agency has taken on a mind of it’s own as if it were a down to the minute reality show, almost like a Bachelorette for sports fans. With so much coverage, media attention and instantaneous feedback, central themes begin to develop across specific franchises. While franchises such as the Warriors and the Thunder have created prestigious reputations by making a plethora of savvy and meticulous organizational planning decisions, the Knicks continue to find innate ways to decimate their reputation as a reputable organization.
As 2017 Free Agency arrived, the Knicks found themselves in an opportunistic scenario to shoot themselves in the foot once again. Sitting smug with over 20 million in cap space to burn and Tim Hardaway Jr. sitting there for the taking, the Knicks couldn’t pass up the opportunity to create drama, attention and overall dysfunction. When the contract details of Tim Hardaway Jr’s 4 year, 71 million dollar contract were revealed, history had repeated itself once again. Hardaway’s contract trended on Twitter, flooded the message boards and became the butt of the never-ending joke of the Knicks. Hardaway Jr.’s contract had more than doubled the career earnings of his father.
You know the 5 time All-Pro with one of the most devastating crossovers to grace the hardwood? Now, buckle up and thoroughly prepare yourself for the brazen statement I’m ready to make. While Hardaway Jr. may never be his father, he will be worth every penny of his contract. In fact, I’m ready to state that his contract was actually a wise decision by the Knicks’ front office. If you possess the fortitude to continue reading, and trust me, I won’t blame you if you don’t- it is the Knicks after all- you’d be pleasantly surprised of the statistical evidence that illustrates Hardaway Jr.’s growth as a weapon on the court.
Hardaway Jr.’s growth as a weapon on the court certainly hasn’t developed overnight, which is why his career can be looked upon as a “Tale of 2 Hardawayz.” The “Tale of 2 Hardawayz” began on January 7th, 2017. At the time, Hardaway Jr.’s minutes were sporadic, citing defensive lapses and inexcusable shot selection on the court throughout the first year and a half. However, due to the shocking trade of Kyle Korver to the Cleveland Cavaliers, opportunity arrived for THJ. As opportunity arose, THJ went full “carpe diem” into the new year."
In order to illustrate Hardaway Jr.’s second half success, I’ve broken down a multitude of different statistics starting at the day Kyle Korver had been shipped to Cleveland. The table below shows the basic statistics of THJ post-Korver trade. (Basketball-Reference)
As a near 48 game sample size is credible enough to dismiss a fluke, it’s difficult to underlook the 2-Guard's hidden success. Shooting .388% from beyond the arc, over 80% from the stripe, and .47% from the field are impressive for a modern day 2 guard. THJ’s improved efficiency had resulted in a surprising 58% TS%. While THJ’s base line stats are impressive to the naked eye, it was his impact on the court that influenced the Knicks’ decision to hand him a 71 million dollar contract. When you analyze the Hawks’ best 5-man lineups post-Korver trade, THJ is a mainstay on the list. THJ appeared on the Hawks’ 6 best 5-man lineups in terms of +/- and FG% on the court. This is depicted Basketball Reference’s chart listed below.
To any naysayer that attempts to mitigate THJ’s impact by pointing out that 5 man lineups aren’t a credible premise, when you concentrate the lineups to a 3-man unit, THJ is a mainstay on the list. According to Basketball Reference, there are substantial jumps in FG%, 3PT%, eFG%, and of course +/- where THJ was a vital part of 9 of the Hawks’ 10 best 3-man lineups.
As THJ was a pivotal presence to the team’s success in reaching the postseason through being apart of the team’s best lineups, when you analyze his impact compared to other members of the Hawks, you’d be puzzled by the results. According to Basketball Reference, THJ was the team’s most valuable player post-Korver trade. Hardaway Jr. ranked #1 on the Hawks in overall net-points (points minus opponents points) as well as net-FG%. Yes, that’s Tim Hardaway Jr. you’re seeing over all-star Paul Millsap.
When deep diving into the Hawks’ surprising 48-34 season, an unlikely catalyst had emerged in the former Michigan standout. From his overall impressive numbers, to his impact on the court, to appearing in essentially all of the Hawks’ strongest lineups, he has all the makings of becoming worth his 71 million dollar contract. While the overwhelming majority of Knicks have already began growing their tomatoes in order to toss them at Tim Hardaway Jr. and the Knicks’ front office, I fully expect the second half of the “Tale of 2 Hardawayz” to reign supreme throughout the duration of his contract.
