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New York Knicks: 5 players for Tim Hardaway Jr. to study

By Maxwell Ogden

WASHINGTON, DC -  APRIL 16: Tim Hardaway Jr. #10 of the Atlanta Hawks stands on the court during the Eastern Conference Quaterfinals game against the Washington Wizards during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC -  APRIL 16: Tim Hardaway Jr. #10 of the Atlanta Hawks stands on the court during the Eastern Conference Quaterfinals game against the Washington Wizards during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2017 at Verizon Center in Washington, DC. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 12: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 12, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 12: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors handles the ball against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Five of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 12, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson is beginning to emerge as the poster child for 3-and-D shooting guards. Tim Hardaway Jr. is aiming to become a more complete scoring threat than Thompson, but even saying that creates high expectations.

If Hardaway Jr. is going to become an effective two-way shooting guard, then Thompson should be one of the first players he studies.

If Raja Bell is the ultimate 3-and-D role player, then Thompson is the evolution of him. He’s slightly taller than Hardaway Jr., but the two-time NBA champion and three-time All-Star has become an outstanding scorer with the Golden State Warriors.

Between 2014-15 and 2016-17, Thompson averaged 22.0 points per game on a slash line of .467/.425/.869—the type of numbers Hardaway Jr. is being paid to produce.

Thompson has undoubtedly benefited from playing with the likes of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green. He’s a star in his own right, however, as he’s become an elite on-ball defender, one of the most lethal shooters in the NBA, and an underrated post scorer.

Hardaway Jr. will need to create more off the bounce, but he can learn from Thompson’s willingness to pass up a good shot for a great shot, and his quick release in catch and shoot scenarios.

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