Can Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer weave his magic and put shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. to good use?
After acquiring the former Michigan star during NBA Draft Night from the New York Knicks, many felt that Hardaway could find himself groping to fit into the Hawks system. But Budenholzer doesn't see it that way and said he has long had his eye on the son of former NBA great Tim Hardaway Sr.
It was initially thought that the Knicks would keep Hardaway Jr. since his dad was part of Derek Fisher's coaching staff. But Phil Jackson felt there was someone better than Hardaway. They eventually landed that player: Jerian Grant.
The deal mostly included draft picks. But did the Hawks lose in this one? Being a shooter, Hardaway Jr. is believed to be a perfect fit for the Hawks' style of play. As seen last year, the Hawks thrived on long-range bombs, and Hardaway certainly fit the bill. However, Hardaway may find himself jockeying for playing time in the rotation with Kyle Korver, Thabo Sefolosha and Kent Bazermore alternating in the same position.
The good news is that Korver may be out for a while because of an injured elbow and is set to undergo surgery for it. So the Hawks' main artillery could be out of commission for a while. This should prove to be a great opportunity for Hardaway Jr., who vowed to prove detractors wrong.
"Once I heard him say that, all hands on deck now. Obviously, as a basketball player, you take that to heart. So it's time to move on, get better and, when the time comes, the time comes. Right now, it's all about Atlanta basketball," Hardaway said at the introductory news conference.
Though his offensive talent seems to be a big plus, his defensive prowess may need some work. Hopefully, Budenholzer and his staff can work on that to help Hardaway evolve into a more complete player.
