Knicks Destroy Hawks in Hardaway Trade

Hello. If you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to you about the New York Knicks, Tim Hardaway Jr., and happiness.

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During the 2015 NBA Draft, Phil Jackson sent mercurial shooting guard, Tim Hardaway Jr., to the Atlanta Hawks for Notre Dame point guard Jerian Grant, who was selected with the 19th pick in the Draft. I would have traded Hardaway for a toaster. Actually, screw the toaster. I would have traded Hardaway for future toast considerations (what’s the CBA’s rule on trading players for electronic appliances?).

You see, Hardaway is not merely a careless shot chucker who is more concerned with “getting his” than getting wins. He is also a player who treats defense with the same vigor that a disgruntled worker treats the late shift. The Hawks newest addition rebounds with the intensity of a sloth who just overdosed on Nyquil.

But Hardaway is not your typical one-dimensional player. He has been a historic albatross worthy of recognition. It’s time to shine a light on this statistical landfill. Just look at these numbers. Like, really look at them.

Tim, I’m disappointed in you.

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So, to summarize, last year Hardaway became the first player in the freaking history of basketball who was at least 6-3, qualified for the minutes per game leader board, had a field goal percentage lower than 40 percent (!), a defensive plus/minus rating lower than -3.5 (!!), and whose total rebounds per 100 possessions was less than 6 (!!!). Last year Hardaway was the basketball equivalent of rancid meat. He was a doctor who specialized in infecting. For Al Horford, Jeff Teague, and the rest of the Hawks sake, I hope he’s not contagious.

In his two years in New York, we’ve seen a player with some nice raw tools and a potential niche in the NBA degrade into the worst version of himself. He didn’t defend. Or rebound. Or pass. Or shoot with much, if any, caution. He was J.R. Smith with half the talent and none of the fun.

The Hawks and Mike Budenholzer must see the things that made him a promising draft prospect just two short years ago; the smooth jump shot, the acrobatic finishes in transition, and the length and athleticism to hang with most of today’s wings. But sometimes, you see what you want to see and not whats actually there. Hardaway is a hollow basketball player who has adopted all of the wrong traits. It’s certainly possible that avoiding the toxicity of New York and joining a winning culture can remedy some of these problems. Though it certainly was not worth the 19th pick in the Draft to find out.

Here’s to the Jerian Grant era. He’s not Tim Hardaway Jr. and that’s a great start.