Tim Hardaway Jr. Impressing in Early Workouts

Submitted by Marley Nowell on

Courtesy of UMHoops:

 

According to ESPN’s Chad Ford, Hardaway has been extremely impressive at pre-draft workouts, not only competing against fellow guard prospects such as Isaiah Canaan, but besting them. Ford called Hardaway “the best player on the floor for all two hours” of a workout that he watched on Tuesday.

 

Hardaway has all the physical tools to be a dominant NBA player.  Hopefully he can put it all together in the NBA.

remdog

May 16th, 2013 at 1:10 PM ^

to me. I've been saying it all along. Timmy has all the tools to be a good to great NBA player. He still has some work to do to reach that potential but the potential is there.

He's an underrated ballhandler who's been inconsistent at times but has usually shown an ability to get to the hoop against anybody and beat the best presses. He's also an underrated shooter who had to create his own shot much of the time or make something happen at the end of the shot clock.

So to all the naysayers who didn't believe me here - I told you so!!!

ijohnb

May 16th, 2013 at 3:32 PM ^

always thought the same thing.  He is not going to be a dominant player but I could never figure out why he never moved up the radar of pro scouts.  He is kind of the whole package, not really sure what else people want.

CLord

May 16th, 2013 at 1:14 PM ^

I love Timmy, but dominant NBA player?  Not a chance.  He'll be at best the 6th or 7th guy in a rotation.   I don't ever see him starting.  Not hating, just keeping it real.

remdog

May 16th, 2013 at 1:25 PM ^

It's a bit crazy to suggest he will be a "dominant" or great player at this point. But even crazier to presume that he will be a bench player or 6th man "at best."

It seems like Timmy will just have to keep proving the doubters wrong.

In reply to by DoubleLegTakedown

hvsiii

May 17th, 2013 at 9:55 AM ^

I never said anyone wasn't entitled to their opinion.  I just said opinions are not "keeping it real."  You stated your opinion as fact, which it is not.  My opinions are definitely not fact and I wouldn't claim them as such unless I had something to back it up and even then there is a grey area. 

Not a big deal just sharing what I thought because that saying is ambiguous.  Yes, this is my opinion and have nothing to back it up, so not fact.

Mr. Yost

May 16th, 2013 at 2:39 PM ^

...but he can be an NBA starter. 4th or 5th guy in the starting line-up.

Tim's all-around game would certainly translate to the NBA. IMO, both he and Burke will have long careers. I think THJ may be more of a journeyman, but he'll be in the league nonetheless.

I still see him going at the end of the 1st round. Burke going top 3 with Noel and McLemore.

TWSWBC

May 16th, 2013 at 1:36 PM ^

There are only a handful of guys that can dominate games consistently. Sure he may get hot and have a few good weeks here and there but he won't own the league

mGrowOld

May 16th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^

I predict Timmy's going to one of those players in a few years where we all say "where the Hell was THAT when he was playing in AA?"  I think he's got all the tools, the right mental attitude and is just a generally good all around person.  I wish him nothing but success and i LOVE hearing that he's doing well in these drills.  

As much as I wasnt surprised when Darius went pro too early and dropped to mid 2nd round I predict just the oppostie for THJ.  I think he's coming off the board much quicker than people generally expect and I think he made the exact right choice in coming out now.

Good for him.

Mr. Rager

May 16th, 2013 at 4:43 PM ^

Also:

- @ Minny (7/8 shooting, 21 pts, 4 3pt, 5 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk)

- SD ST (8/13, 21 pts, 5 3pt, 4 reb)

Unfortunately after that he was done.  Each game after the next he fell off a little bit (5/11 VCU, 4/11 KU, 3/13 Fla, 4/16 'Cuse, 5/13 Louisville).  He has all the tools to make it in the NBA.  As you can tell from the OSU/Minny/SDSU games - he can LIGHT it up.  Unfortunately all the physical tools in the world can't fix a somewhat suspect mental game.  A hot or not shooter that can also handle the ball and get rebounds for his size.  

gwkrlghl

May 16th, 2013 at 9:25 PM ^

Usually he'd basically have 5 games, play one lights out, play two ok ones, and two where he couldn't he the broad side of a barn. Hopefully he develops some consistency because he can be incredible when he's on but he was can be pretty bad when he's off which happens a bit more often right now

bronxblue

May 16th, 2013 at 1:51 PM ^

He was selected as either the 1st or 2nd team player in the toughest conference this year.  He has the talent; nobody has ever denied that.  But its the inconsistency that everyone saw while at UM that hurt his stock.  I do think he could be a good bench player for a playoff team; heck, I could definitely see him being the second-team playmaker on a team like Memphis or San Antonio.  He'll get drafted, probably in the second round, and impress enough to warrant some run.

NoVaWolverine

May 16th, 2013 at 2:23 PM ^

As noted above, when he's on, "Good Timmy" is very good indeed. This is the best case scenario for him -- he gets on one of his hot streaks during the pre-draft workouts and plays himself into a first-round spot.  The key for his long-term career in the league will be to eliminate those "Bad Timmy" stretches (e.g., his cold shooting during the Kansas-Florida-Syracuse stretch of the tourney run) -- or at least limit their duration and provide enough defense and rebounding to still add value when his shot's not falling.

WolvinLA2

May 16th, 2013 at 3:26 PM ^

That would be best for him short term certainly, but getting picked at the beginning of the second round wouldn't be bad either. Getting picked up by a bad team that either doesn't have a good SG or only has one would be a great opportunity for him to get minutes, without a ton of pressure.

From a contract perspective, yeah the first round would be better.

WolvinLA2

May 16th, 2013 at 3:26 PM ^

That would be best for him short term certainly, but getting picked at the beginning of the second round wouldn't be bad either. Getting picked up by a bad team that either doesn't have a good SG or only has one would be a great opportunity for him to get minutes, without a ton of pressure.

From a contract perspective, yeah the first round would be better.

timtebro

May 16th, 2013 at 2:16 PM ^

I'd be pumped to see the Pacers select him. He'd be an immediate contributor off the bench, offensively and defensively. Plus, he can take away some shots from the black hole Psycho T.

His father was also an all-pro PG for the Pacers back in the day....

/s

snoopblue

May 16th, 2013 at 2:46 PM ^

Where all the THJ haters now? Anyone that knows anything about college vs. pro knows that the repetition, coaching and full-time committment in the professional ranks helps players that might have seemed to reach a plateau in the college game reach their full potential professionally. I am very excited for THJ and his impending NBA career.

Mr. Yost

May 16th, 2013 at 2:46 PM ^

...to continue to read to level of hate (not hate, that's to strong of a word...but I'm too lazy to think of a better word) for THJ.

He was GREAT as a freshman, he had a horrible sophomore year, and he came back his junior year and had another great year. He contributed in ways that will never show up in the box score. Similar to Dwayne Wade during this most recent Heat series. Even last night, Rip Hamilton was making Ray Allen look foolish on the defensive end, the Heat bring in Wade at the end and Hamilton's first shot barely hits rim. He didn't score another point, meanwhile Wade gets a block, a steal and a hustle play to knock the ball off of Boozer and retain possession.

THJ wasn't the most consistent offensively, but he elevated his game as a Junior to contribute in other ways. Hustle, defense, leadership, passing, a 2nd ball handler (which he was TERRIBLE at his soph. year), are just some of the ways he got better.

And even though he had cold slumps, his shot selection was WAAAAAY better. He took some of the worst shots in the history of organized basketball his sophomore year. His junior year, he at least took primarily good looks.

In the end, I thought he was one of the best all-around players in the entire country...if not THE best. Now that's all-around. That's not best player. What's his face from IU is probably the exception, but I don't know if his shot is good enough to be considered an all-around player, I'd have to look at the numbers (which clearly I'm too lazy to do in this post).

Mr. Yost

May 17th, 2013 at 8:06 AM ^

...to continue to read to level of hate (not hate, that's to strong of a word...but I'm too lazy to think of a better word) for THJ.

He was GREAT as a freshman, he had a horrible sophomore year, and he came back his junior year and had another great year. He contributed in ways that will never show up in the box score. Similar to Dwayne Wade during this most recent Heat series. Even last night, Rip Hamilton was making Ray Allen look foolish on the defensive end, the Heat bring in Wade at the end and Hamilton's first shot barely hits rim. He didn't score another point, meanwhile Wade gets a block, a steal and a hustle play to knock the ball off of Boozer and retain possession.

THJ wasn't the most consistent offensively, but he elevated his game as a Junior to contribute in other ways. Hustle, defense, leadership, passing, a 2nd ball handler (which he was TERRIBLE at his soph. year), are just some of the ways he got better.

And even though he had cold slumps, his shot selection was WAAAAAY better. He took some of the worst shots in the history of organized basketball his sophomore year. His junior year, he at least took primarily good looks.

In the end, I thought he was one of the best all-around players in the entire country...if not THE best. Now that's all-around. That's not best player. What's his face from IU is probably the exception, but I don't know if his shot is good enough to be considered an all-around player, I'd have to look at the numbers (which clearly I'm too lazy to do in this post).

Mr. Rager

May 16th, 2013 at 4:46 PM ^

Anyone who says the NBA has a poor product I immediately consider a racist against blacks.  

So you prefer a game with a 11 second longer shot clock, filled with a bunch of bounce passes and jumpers?  That is more entertaining to you?  RAYCESS.

MGoneBlue

May 16th, 2013 at 6:03 PM ^

More like racist against a shot clock that only allows one iteration of a set play before it becomes "give the ball to your star player who chucks it up with two seconds to go, but that's OK because it usually goes in anyway."

WolvinLA2

May 16th, 2013 at 6:54 PM ^

How is that racist?  It's not like high level college basketball is all white kids.  Plus, the NBA has a lot of white Europeans that college doesn't.  Until McGary broke out, M had one white starter, OSU had the same and MSU had none.  Let's not act like college basketball is a bunch of white dudes.  

And though I'm not a racist, I prefer college to pro as well.  I find the NBA to be mostly boring with some excitement sprinkled in.  

Out of curiosity, am I also racist for liking college football better than the NFL?

Farstate

May 16th, 2013 at 7:33 PM ^

You say you aren't a racist but then also say that you prefer the college game to the NBA. This leaves your guilt undetermined. The real question is whether you think the NBA has a poor product as that is the defining characteristic of racism. I am glad Mr. Rager established that fact for us all. It just makes life easier.

WolvinLA2

May 16th, 2013 at 7:39 PM ^

Totally racist then.  

But really, I am racist when it comes to the NBA.  But racist in that I like the black people the best.  So many of those European and Argentinian bastards drive me nutty.  Floppers, just like in soccer.  Ginobili is the worst of them, but he's not the only one.  I think it's a cultural thing.  Americans like to pretend they aren't hurt even when they are because it shows they're tough.  Foreign players want to pretend they shattered their tibia just to get a call then get right up and play.  I immediately change the channel, every time.  

Farnn

May 16th, 2013 at 6:56 PM ^

I was never really a basketball fan until I started following this team at the beginning of the season.  I learned a ton about the sport and enjoyed watching the way this team played and the flow of the game.  Once the season was over and with no football to watch I figured I'd check out some fo the NBA playoffs.  I hated it.  The game seemed to be disjointed and had no flow.  It was bring ball up, one guy dribbles for a bit and then chucks up a shot.  It lacked the energy I was accustomed to seeing Michigan play with.  No one was getting offensive rebounds because everyone was running back to play defense and there were 3 defenders around the ball.  There didn't seem to be many plays run and even with the faster shot clock the game actually felt slow.  I tried watching a few other times and then just gave up.

TheLastHarbaugh

May 16th, 2013 at 8:06 PM ^

You're getting a lot of hate, but I see where you're coming from. 

Any time somebody says they love basketball, but hate the NBA, it's definitely not a racist comment in and of itself, but it does set off some alarms in my head.  

Here's what I mean.

The NBA is a black league. It's a players league, and the overwhelming majority of the players are black. All of the super star players are black (with the exception of one white dude every so often).

College basketball on the other hand, is a coaches league. The coaches have all of the power, and pretty much all of the coaches are white. College super stars also have a much better chance of being white. Your JJ Reddicks, Tyler Hansbroughs, Adam Morrisons, etc...

Then you always see announcers gushing disproportionately over the white kids who work hard and are smart heady players, as if the black kids aren't working just as hard, and don't have just as good of a grasp on the game (often times better).

It just feels like people love basketball. They love it on the high school level (mostly white), and they love it on the college level (mostly white), but then some sort of weird alchemy happens when we get to the pro level (mostly black) where they cease liking it for some reason...

I'm not saying it's that way in every case, but a lot of times I feel like it is, or at least, it has something to do with it.

WolvinLA2

May 16th, 2013 at 8:21 PM ^

Not that many people love HS basketball.  The ones who watch it either have classmates or kids on the team.  So that's not a fair comparison.  I'm a basketball fan, but I've maybe watched 3 HS basketball games since I graduated high school.

Is college basketball really that much more white than the NBA?  Look at the Rivals 100 or the All-America teams.  Sure, there are the Butlers and Gonzagas of the world, but that's not the norm.  Look at the teams in the Sweet 16 this year - mostly black players.  Michigan's team has more white players than most, but only 7 of 15 are white, and most of those (Vogrich, McLimans, Bielfeldt, Bartelstein) rarely see the court and Albrecht didn't get many minutes until the end of the season.  Our team will likely be more black next year as we lose Vogrich, McLimans and Bartelstein and add only Donnal.  

There are a lot of differences between the pro game and college that make people prefer one over the other.  6 whites per team versus 4 is probably not it.  

TheLastHarbaugh

May 16th, 2013 at 8:50 PM ^

Yes, college basketball is far more white than the NBA. On the whole, blacks represent only about 37% of paticipants (compared to 77% in the NBA). It just doesn't seem that way because you're probably used to watching high major D-1 basketball, which is dominated by black athletes.

So there are major differences in demographics. That, and the fact that the coaches of nearly every single major college basketball team are white, and coaches run college basketball, unlike the NBA, where players run things.

It just always seems funny. The players in the NBA are almost categorically the same guys people used to love watching in college, and the NBA game itself is much more open, free, fun, and just overall better in terms of quality. It's also far less corrupt than college basketball, but like I said, some weird alchemy happens between the college and the pros. Suddenly, all the players people loved in college are now selfish, whiny, prima-donnas, who play for money instead of the love of the game.  

It's not like that in any other major prrofessional sport either. Not in football. Not in hockey. Not in baseball. Only in basketball.