Miami Heat: Should Tim Hardaway Jr. be an offseason target?

Dallas Mavericks Tim Hardaway Jr. (Ashley Landis/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports)
Dallas Mavericks Tim Hardaway Jr. (Ashley Landis/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports)

Should the Miami Heat be interested in Tim Hardaway Jr. as an offseason target? 

Heading into the offseason, the Miami Heat will be looking to upgrade its roster and specifically, the team needs to find help on the offensive end. Miami needs to add an offensive-minded wing that could help take some of the load on that end of the floor off Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.

And while there will be several fits on the open market this offseason, one name that has already been linked to the Heat is Tim Hardaway Jr.

Hardaway is coming off a season in which he averaged 17 points and three rebounds on 45 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent shooting from 3-point range. He was a vital part of the Mavs’ success this season and, probably too often than not, was the consistent second option next to Luka Doncic.

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While a bit part of his fit on the Heat would depend on the salary number, his offensive skill set, at least on paper, would be welcomed in Miami.

THJ would be an ideal fit on the Miami Heat

If there was one thing that plagued the Heat this season, it was the lack of a consistent second option to either Jimmy or Bam. When one was out of off his game, the Heat didn’t have a chance offensively.

Without another role player stepping up, Jimmy or Bam, more often than not, were on an offensive island alone. Adding a wing that can score 30 on any given night – which he did five times throughout this past season – would be the scoring punch that the Heat desperately missed this season.

And that’s a big reason why the Heat went from having the seventh-best offense last season to the 18th best this season. If Miami can add a strong offensive wing while also maintaining their defensive integrity, there’s a good chance the Heat will be a threat in the Eastern Conference once again next season.

If the Heat misses out on Kyle Lowry, Hardaway might be the team’s next best bet. Depending on cost, it wouldn’t be surprising if a deal between the two sides came to fruition this offseason. And considering that Hardaway is interested in joining the Heat, it’s certainly an option that could very much be on the table.