Just like he did two years ago, Tim Hardaway Jr has joined a new team with a strong defensive foundation and desperate for more shooting. In 2024, Hardaway went on to play a big role for the resurgent Pistons, starting 77 games, and has a chance to do the same for a remodeled Heat team next season. Although his free agency departure hasn't sparked as much controversy in Detroit as some other recent Pistons, but Hardaway's loss has been felt in Detroit's lack of shooting depth and quality two-way wings.
Tim Hardaway Jr is a great role player for any contending team
Hardaway remains one of the most underrated shooters in the league, even after a stellar campaign in Denver last season. He knocked down 41% of his threes while taking nearly 7 attempts per game in just 26 minutes per game. Any team needing more shooting would be lucky to have Hardaway's blend of three-point volume and accuracy.
Fortunately, the Pistons have finally added a solid rotation of comparable shooters after struggling to replace the loss of both Hardaway and Malik Beasley last season from the year prior. But the Heat are not in the same boat after sacrificing a lot of pieces to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo. They gave up many of their best shooters in the Giannis trade package and also lost All-Star Norman Powell to free agency.
But that's where Hardaway can come to the rescue, just as he did unexpectedly for the Pistons two years ago. Back then, Hardaway was coming off a down shooting season with the Mavericks but now he's re-established himself as an elite shooter. The Heat got him on a bargain too with a 1 year deal for just $6 million. That's great value for a player that could end up starting a lot of games and providing much-needed spacing next to Giannis and Bam Adebayo.
The Pistons saw Hardaway's impact first-hand
In Detroit, Hardaway also brought value as a veteran with winning experience. He held up defensively enough to help the Pistons in different rotations and even played two separate positions throughout the season: small forward when Ausar Thompson was injured, shooting guard when Jaden Ivey was injured.
The Pistons might be past the point of needing veterans just to establish a winning culture now, but Hardaway is still undeniably a winning player. His defense isn't game-changing, but it won't need to be with Giannis and Bam on the team. Instead, Hardaway just needs to maintain his position and avoid being a glaring weakness. At 6'5" and 205lbs heading into his 14th season, Hardaway has the frame and veteran savvy to avoid getting hunted the way some shooters do.
Everything is shaping up for Hardaway to have another sneakily good season for the Heat and play a surprising role on a potential title contender. He'll be a great connecting piece in Miami, just like he was in Detroit and various other stops.
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