The New York Knicks drafted Tim Hardaway Jr. with the 24th pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. They kept him for two years before trading him to the Atlanta Hawks during the 2015 Draft.
Now, the Knicks have Hardaway back on their roster. It's just going to cost them a lot more than it once did.
The Knicks offered Hardaway a four-year, $71 million contract, an offer the Hawks declined to match. In fact, it was kind of a surprising offer from any team, especially one that traded Hardaway for such a modest haul just two years earlier.
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Perhaps the most surprised party, though, is Tim Hardaway, Sr. Adjusted for inflation, the elder Hardaway made $70,324,241 in 14 seasons in the league. That means son will make more from this one contract than father ever did in the league.
Hardaway had become good friends with Carmelo Anthony during his first tenure with the Knicks. Anthony was upset when the team traded him away, and now, with Hardaway coming back, Anthony is likely on his way out.
Still, the Knicks are stressing an era of "emphasizing youth, athleticism, accountability, and unselfishness," according to a statement released by the team upon signing Hardaway. At just 25 years old, he certainly fits that bill.
Whether it leads to more wins remains to be seen. But the younger Hardaway will at least have bragging rights over dad.
