The Miami Heat signed Tim Hardaway Jr. this offseason to give the franchise a needed volume 3-point shooter. He took 6.9 3-point attempts per game last season in just 26.6 minutes. THJ has attempted over seven each night in six seasons and is never afraid to fire away.
The Heat traded Tyler Herro to get Giannis Antetokounmpo and watched Norman Powell depart in free agency. Bam Adebayo and his 5.5 3-point attempts per game are the highest returning mark for Miami. They needed a shooter and wisely got one in Hardaway.
The Heat have to maximize the veteran this season. It is no secret that he loves to shoot. Miami needs him to make over 40 percent from long range like he did last season and not 33.6 percent as he did in 2022. Hardaway Jr. is a streaky shooter, but it is on head coach Erik Spoelstra and the Heat to create open looks and find ways to free him up.
If THJ gets the ball, he is going to shoot. The Heat need Giannis and Bam collapsing the defense, so Hardaway Jr. is wide open. They also need to keep a creator on the floor with the second unit, so THJ isn't just firing away. Pat Riley has big expectations for the Heat’s addition. They had success with Herro playing a similar role and just need to maximize THJ in it.
Tim Hardaway Jr. will be a needed shooter for the Heat
Miami needs shooting. Their two highest-volume 3-point shooters from last season are gone. Ideally, Bam takes fewer, especially if he continues to shoot under 32 percent from long range. That leaves Andrew Wiggins taking five each night as the highest-volume shooter after THJ.
Miami needs Hardaway Jr. to set a new career-high. Giannis will force defenders to clog the paint and create plenty of open looks. The Heat should be searching for THJ as he offers the blend of volume and success the franchise desperately needs flanking the Greek Freak.
They wisely signed the veteran sharpshooter to a one-year, $6.0 million contract in the offseason. He just finished third in Sixth Man of the Year voting and shot over 40 percent from 3-point range flanking Nikola Jokic in Denver. The Heat will need the 34-year-old to play more minutes and fill in during key moments. Miami lacks shooting and needs THJ to fill that void.
This is not the perfect fit. Hardaway Jr. is a subpar defender, who struggles to make a significant impact beyond his scoring. The veteran is a bucket coming off the bench. He won’t be finding open teammates or creating plays.
Heat fans must keep their expectations in check. Miami needs a sharpshooter who is comfortable operating at a high volume. Hardaway Jr. offers that, even if the rest of his game causes some issues.
The Miami Heat wisely signed the veteran to fill a need. Tim Hardaway Jr. has played his best flanking one of the best players in the world. It was Luka Doncic in Dallas, Cade Cunningham in Detroit, and Nikola Jokic in Denver. Now, THJ is paired with Giannis and gives the Heat a skill nobody else on the roster offers.
Fans should see Hardaway Jr. shine in the Herro role, but there will be headaches. Buckle up because he will force fans on a rollercoaster of emotion, especially when the shots aren’t falling. The Heat got a volume shooter, and hope the pros outweigh the cons at the end of the day. Only time will tell, but credit to Pat Riley and the front office for filling this need.
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