Atlanta Hawks: Tim Hardaway Jr. Forcing Trade Deadline Decisions

Ride Out His Hot Streak, But Let Him Walk In The Summer

With Atlanta’s option to match offers on Hardaway, without a decision to break the team up in a larger sense, the most likely outcome is that the Hawks look to get as much as they can possibly get out of THJ for the remainder of his rookie scale contract.

The Hawks have no need to make a concrete decision on what would come next after that just yet, but the most cautious approach they could take may well be to avoid tying themselves up in Hardaway long term.

In weighing the rewards of what the Hawks could be with a version of Hardaway that represents a previously unimagined peak, the risks of how an untimely and unnecessary contract to the former Michigan Wolverine may influence the franchise’s future flexibility still loom largest of all.

Without some other major additions in free agency, or finding a superstar in the middle of the first round in an upcoming draft class, it seems incredibly unrealistic to speculate about a timeline where Hardaway could be a driving force in a new, positive direction for the Hawks.

If the Hawks have doubts over Hardaway’s long-term viability, they can still use him as a part of one final run in the next few months, even with no intention of re-signing him.

In that case it would be wiser to look to move him for an asset, but at the very least you don’t risk any long lasting damage by letting him see the season through as a Hawk before ultimately walking away.