The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly "shopping" Tim Hardaway Jr. a season-and-a-half after he was acquired via a trade with the New York Knicks. The latest team who is rumored to be interested in the four-year pro is the Philadelphia 76ers.
Hardaway Jr., son of former NBA great Tim Hardaway, spent his first two seasons in the NBA in New York after the Knicks drafted him 24th overall in 2013. The Knicks traded him to the Hawks in the summer of 2015 in exchange for the draft rights to Jerian Grant.
He has been with Atlanta since then and is set to become a restricted free agent this coming offseason, the end of the fourth year of his five-year, $6 million rookie scale deal with the Knicks.
RealGM reported that the Hawks' front office is planning to trade him "before he hits restricted free agency this summer" as the team does not want to "pay him" a new contract moving forward.
The report cited ESPN's Zach Lowe as saying that Atlanta is looking for second-round draft picks in exchange for Hardaway Jr.
Fansided indicated that the Sixers could be willing to oblige with the Hawks' wishes as the team could put up a package of two future second-round selections for the former Michigan standout.
It would be a low-risk, high-advantage deal for Philadelphia, who are currently having problems with their guard rotation after separate injuries to Jerryd Bayless and Sergio Rodriguez. Hardaway Jr. is currently averaging 11.7 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 22.3 minutes of playing time per night for Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer and has a lot to prove if he is indeed traded.
Meanwhile, Atlanta will have more cap space to maximize the upcoming free-agency period by dealing the 2014 NBA All-Rookie First Teamer.
The Haws have been busy lately after trading Kyle Korver to the defending champions Cleveland Cavaliers. Aside from Hardaway Jr., the team is also rumored to be shopping starting power forward Paul Millsap.
