I only mentioned Ward, with respect to Hardaway, to compare the sort of role-player impact from a mid-20s draft pick that Tim Jr. will have for this team. These two are nowhere near the same players. Hardaway is a 2/3 who can shoot the 3; while Ward was a defensive, pass-1st PG. However, the floor/ceiling is what I am talking about. Hardaway may not be a star, but he won?t be a bust.
I do agree that this pick boils down to Hardaway or Bullock. And whenever the other option goes directly after you select, then that shows a red flag. But only time will tell. To me, I would have gone with either one of these 2 players. And, to be honest, there are arguments both ways.
Hardaway, to me (and to our GM), is the superior overall offensive player (especially when you consider the translation to the NBA game). Bullock is an inch taller with a 3-inch longer wingspan, but THjr is the superior athlete. I think with all things equal, I take Tim?s competitive edgy, his moxie and ?clutch? gene? I think Hardaway played in the tougher conference, carried more of his team?s load, had more daunting expectations to live up to; I think he is actually the better overall defensive player? just needs consistency. I also think I know Tim wont shy away from the bright lights of Broadway, he will not be in awe of the NBA star (when playing teams like MIA). Can I say this with absolute certainty about Bullock?
Bottom line: I can respect your argument that you would prefer Bullock over Hardaway, but I do not agree that the choice is clearly obsvious.
?Standing roughly 6'7 with a near 6'10 wingspan, Bullock has solid size for the small forward position, but he doesn't possess great explosiveness, which is most clear when watching his operate one-on-one and on the pick and roll. Lacking the burst to get into the paint consistently and proving to be only an average ball-handler, Bullock does not create his own shot prolifically and struggles to score over defenders in the midrange area, especially under pressure. Considering his strong long-range shooting, low-mistake style of play, and lack of creativity on the offensive end, Bullock seems best suited to play a role similar to the one fellow North Carolina product
Danny Green plays for the Spurs.
On the other side of the floor, it is Bullock's size and competitiveness that make him a solid defender. He could still stand to maximize his frame to help him defend the three-spot at the next level, but he's an active player who was charged with stopping the opposition's top perimeter scorer on an almost nightly basis at UNC and rebounded the ball well for a player his size. He doesn't have great lateral quickness, and gave up more dribble penetration this season than he did as a sophomore, but often did so knowing he had a teammate helping on the baseline. Bullock's defensive ability has been impressive in spurts over the course of his career and his potential on this end of the floor will be something NBA teams will want to study more in private workouts.?
From DraftExpress.com
http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz2XWm6In2A
?Finishing as the Wolverines' second leading scorer, Hardaway indeed played a key role for a Michigan team that made it all the way to the National Championship game. Knocking down 37% of his shots from beyond the arc, Hardaway bounced back from the 28% he shot as a sophomore, but his two-point percentage dipped from 54% to 48%, something that has become a trend for the Florida native over the last three seasons. At different points in Hardaway's career he's been both a highly effective and below average finisher, midrange shooter, and spot-up threat, never really stringing together consistency in any one area for a prolonged period.
SPLIT
| FGM
| FGA
| FG%
| PTS/SHOT
|
'10-'11 Catch and Shoot
| 55
| 156
| 35.3%
| 1.032
|
'11-'12 Catch and Shoot
| 40
| 141
| 28.4%
| 0.816
|
'12-'13 Catch and Shoot
| 55
| 139
| 39.6%
| 1.173
|
'10-'11 Pull-Up Jumper
| 18
| 63
| 28.6%
| 0.683
|
'11-'12 Pull-Up Jumper
| 37
| 83
| 44.6%
| 1.012
|
'12-'13 Pull-Up Jumper
| 30
| 98
| 30.6%
| 0.684
|
'10-'11 Runners and Around Rim
| 47
| 77
| 61%
| 1.311
|
'11-'12 Runners and Around Rim
| 49
| 102
| 48%
| 0.99
|
'12-'13 Runners and Around Rim
| 49
| 105
| 46.7%
| 0.942
|
Some of Hardaway's struggles were due to his less than stellar shot selection. Others were the byproduct of the level of opposing defenses he faced on a nightly basis in the Big Ten. There were more than a few occasions though, where he simply had a hard time firing on all cylinders, including the 2013 Tournament where he made 38.2% of his three-point attempts but shot just 37.2% inside the arc.
Despite his inconsistency, there is no questioning Hardaway's overall size, talent, skill level, and the body of work he's put together over the course of his college career. He's a well-rounded weapon who can stretch the floor, get out on the fast break with his athleticism, make smart passes, and put the ball on the floor to score.
Most of his offense this season came in spot-up situations, with catch and shoot jump shots accounting for nearly 40% of his field goal attempts in the half court according to Synergy Sports Technology. Getting great elevation on his jumper and shooting the ball with fluid mechanics, Hardaway made 44% of his unguarded spot-up shots in 2013. Though he made just 31.5% of his pull-up jump shots as a junior, Hardaway has proven that he can also use his dribble to find open space and score off the bounce from the perimeter.
The Florida native's range and confidence as a jump shooter will serve him well at the next level, as his ability to spread the floor and be effective as a complementary option will align itself well with the role he'll likely be expected to play. A capable straight-line slasher who can attack holes in the defense and take the corner when he has a step on his man, Hardaway is a solid athlete, but isn't the type of shifty or explosive slasher who will be asked to consistently create one-on-one or on the pick and roll early in his career.
Around the basket, Hardaway is a fairly reliable finisher. He can play above the rim and finish with finesse around defenders. He does an adequate job drawing contact on the occasions he does attack the rim, though shots around the rim in the half court account for less than 14% of his attempts, a testament to his shot-selection and average advanced ball-handling skills. Hardaway does his best work as a finisher in transition where he finds contact more consistently, and was effective last season both pushing the ball himself and running on the wings. Connecting on 70% of his free throw attempts, a career worst, it would be nice to see Hardaway take fewer difficult pull-ups and be more aggressive in attacking the rim.
Defensively, Hardaway has the tools to be an effective pro. He lacks great length, possessing only a 6'7 wingspan, and won't create many turnovers, but his 6'6 near-200 pound frame, coupled with his very good overall athleticism and competitiveness, give him plenty of promise as a capable NBA player on this end of the floor. His ability to stay dialed in on this end of the floor and consistently deny dribble penetration one-on-one will be the keys to his ability to hold his own early on, as he tended to lose focus very easily at Michigan and didn't seem to put major emphasis on stopping his man in long stretches.
Tim Hardaway Jr will have plenty of opportunities to climb draft boards in workouts considering how up in the air the hierarchy at the shooting guard position is after
Ben McLemore and
Victor Oladipo. Already impressing teams with his performance at the NBA Combine in Chicago, Hardaway could certainly be the player to stake claim to that position in the coming weeks in workouts. There's little question that he is an NBA talent. The question for Hardaway moving forward is whether he can become the efficient contributor he's capable of on a consistent basis.?
From DraftExpress.com
http://www.draftexpress.com#ixzz2XWmp7GjQ
http://www.draftexpress.com
?Michigan coach
John Beilein said the Knicks are getting an experienced player who can do a variety of things.
?He can do more than shoot,? Beilein told SNY.tv. ?He came in as just a shooter. His range is incredible, though. He?s got great range. But at the same time..he?s become what we call a fourth-level defender where not only does he guard his man and guard off the ball and then guard action but he helps everybody else. He talks and he helps everybody else.?
Beilein pointed out that Hardaway Jr. won MVP honors last November in the NIT Preseason Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden when he went for 16 and 23 points, respectively, in wins over Pittsburgh and Kansas State.
?If anybody saw him play in the NIT the beginning of this year with Kansas State and Pittsburgh, he was sensational,? the Michigan coach said.
Beilein added: ?He started every game he ever played at Michigan. He had no trouble just stepping in as a freshman. He?s been around the NBA life his whole life. We played and almost every game was a sellout. He?s used to the big stage, he?ll adapt very easily.?
ESPN draft expert Fran Fraschilla told the New York Post Hardaway Jr. was a low-risk pick who lacked a high ceiling.
?Hardaway already has an NBA professional mentality,??
Fraschilla said. ?He has a professional mindset, a high-character kid and well-coached at Michigan. The ceiling, though, is not great. I don?t see an All-Star career. A long-time rotation guy, very good shooter, not a great passer. But he?s solid and low risk.??
http://zagsblog.com/articles/nba-draft-knicks-select-tim-hardaway-jr/