The New York Knicks are reportedly in negotiations with point guard Trey Burke. Few are quite as excited as shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr.
Before Tim Hardaway Jr. was a member of the New York Knicks, he was making his name with one of the best college basketball programs in the country. Between 2010 and 2013, Hardaway helped the storied Michigan Wolverines achieve their greatest success of the 21st century.
As Hardaway prepares to return from a stress fracture in his left leg, his co-star from his storied tenure with the Wolverines could be amongst the welcoming party.
Per Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, the Knicks are in serious negotiations with point guard Trey Burke on a potential contract. Burke has been the star of the show for the 18-9 Westchester Knicks, and has thus become the target of both the fans’ and front office’s interest.
According to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News, Hardaway would love to be reunited with the point guard with whom he led Michigan to near championship glory.
"“It’d be great if he does get called up. We play off one another very, very well,” Hardaway said Tuesday. “I would definitely be happy with him. It would be like the old times; just him bringing the ball up the court and me running the wing, just doing our thing. It won’t take that long for us to mesh. That’s a positive.”"
It’s an exciting time for Hardaway, who’s inching closer to a return from injury—a return that could coincide with a reunion.
Burke and Hardaway were the leading scorers and distributors for the Wolverines team that reached the 2013 National Championship Game. Burke was the near consensus National College Player of the Year, while Hardaway was named First Team All-Big Ten.
The hope in New York appears to be that Burke and Hardaway can rediscover some of the magic that enabled them to become one of college basketball’s most dynamic duos.
Based on how Hardaway describes it and the game film confirms his recollection, the former Michigan stars could add a new dynamic in transition.
It’s fair to question how often Hardaway should be playing a vertical-based game coming off of a stress injury in his lower left leg. He and Burke developed phenomenal chemistry in the open court, however, which could become a key strength of the offense if they share the floor.
If nothing else, Burke and Hardaway should be able to hold each other accountable during trying times and questionable moments on both ends of the floor.
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Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. led the Michigan Wolverines to the 2013 National Championship Game. The New York Knicks will test how their chemistry translates to the NBA.