NEW YORK, NEW YORK—Year one of Tim Hardaway Jr.’s four-year contract did not go as planned. The swingman inked a new deal with the New York Knicks in 2017 worth just under $71 million, but he struggled to stay healthy for a huge chunk of the year. Furthermore, he struggled to maintain consistency even when he was healthy.
There were flashes of brilliance, but long stretches of poor shooting became an issue for Hardaway. During one particular 10-game period, Hardaway shot 31 percent from the field and 17 percent from deep. Hardly the type of production Steve Mills expected when they signed Hardaway to become one of the team’s main scorers.