Michigan Basketball: Tim Hardaway Jr. Leaves A Year Early For The NBA Draft
Posted at 6:00am — 4/18/2013
Michigan Basketball: Tim Hardaway Jr. Leaves A Year Early For The NBA Draft
Tim Hardaway Jr will declare for the NBA. His decision comes several days after Trey Burke decided to enter his name in the NBA Draft. We here at GBMWolverine understands Burke’s decision to leave, but don’t really understand Tim’s to be honest.
Has he improved from last year? Yes. Does he need another year to make another jump similar to what Burke did by coming back? In our opinion we believe he does, but that isn’t our call. So many experts keep saying that this draft is a weak draft, but don’t they say that just about every year and force players out early to try and capture their dream.
Apr 8, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) lays the ball up over Louisville Cardinals guard/forward Wayne Blackshear (20) during the first half of the championship game in the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY SportsWe believe Tim’s decision is a real gamble. We do believe he will get drafted, but either late first round or second round at best. Most players in the first round get a guaranteed contract where the rest don’t get any guarantees.
There is a belief out there that if a player sticks around for his Senior year that his stock will fallen becuase the belief is if he was any good he would have came out earlier. Could this be a reason for Hardaway to jump ship or the reports of a weak draft and could be stronger next year so the decision could be based on even if he does improve his game, his stock might not move up that much with other players coming out next year.
Our biggest thing with Hardaway Jr. is his inability to be a consistent shooter. We believe he needed another year to show he can be consistent in that department along with taking a stronger role in the team that wasn’t lead by Burke. His defense has gotten better over this year as well, but could have used some more improvement.
Apr 8, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) and Michigan Wolverines head coach John Beilein stand on the court during the second half of the championship game in the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY SportsThis has to be a blow to Coach Beilein and the Michigan Basketball program. They will probably not admit it now, but willing to bet they thought Tim would be back for his Senior year. Now the coaches have to worry about Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III are still weighing their options as all underclassmen have until April 28th to declare for the draft. With Hardaway leaving Michigan early they cannot afford for McGary and Robinson III to leave now. Both players need to come back and show not only Michigan fans, but NBA teams that they can be good players in college and not just being drafted off of possible “potential” of the future.
McGary has jumped up in a lot of NBA board over the 6-game tournament run. Hard to believe that NBA teams would take a risk on a player after such a short run, but the NBA is all about potential anymore.
GRIII is all about potential and what he could do in the NBA in a couple of years and not what he has done this far in college. He has been a role player and hasn’t been a consistent shooter at all this year. His defense has lacked as well, but we are sure some people will say he was playing out of position, but he still needs to get bigger, stronger both mentally and physically for the next level where he was dominated at times at the college level.
We wish Tim Hardaway Jr. the best and hope he gets all his dreams. Here is a quote he made about Michigan. “I cannot thank Coach Beilein, the coaching staff, my teammates, the basketball support staff, and the U-M administration enough for the opportunity they provided me to play at Michigan and the support they gave me along the way. More importantly, I want to thank the Wolverine nation. The positive support they have shown me and this program cannot be measured.”
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff
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