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The New York Knicks made a strong push for the player they first drafted back in 2013, putting themselves in a bidding war with the Atlanta Hawks, who had their former selection, Tim Hardaway Jr., as a restricted free agent after a career-year in his fourth season in the league.
The Knicks organization took major heat in the offseason, signing two shooting guards in second-year Wichita State product Ron Baker (two years, $8.9 million) and Hardaway on a massive four-year, $71 million deal, which the Hawks failed to match.
According to Marc Berman of The New York Post, the Knicks were worried the massive $71 million offer would not be enough to keep the Hawks from re-signing the Michigan product, making it a huge relief when the deadline elapsed and Hardaway went back to being a Knick after spending his first two seasons there.
“I’m thankful to be back here, man,” Hardaway said on Thanksgiving Eve, after the Knicks staged a historic 41-10 third quarter, which included a 28-0 run, to beat the Toronto Raptors. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for me. I’m happy. I’m excited. This group loves one another. You can see it on the floor. We’re playing for one another. The passion is there, and we continue to find our identity.”
Hardaway has been slowly proving his worth to this Knicks team and its fans, now being the second scoring option after Kristaps Porzingis and helping the unicorn carry the load after the unicorn's recent shooting struggles.
The 6-foot-6 marksman recently unleashed a career-high 38 points, mounting a momentum-charged comeback on the streaking Raptors.
