Space City Scoop
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4 free agent guards the Houston Rockets need to target

By N.B. Lindberg

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 17: Lonzo Ball #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles the ball down court during the third quarter of an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Smoothie King Center on February 17, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 17: Lonzo Ball #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans dribbles the ball down court during the third quarter of an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Smoothie King Center on February 17, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Houston Rockets
Tim Hardaway Jr. #11 of the Dallas Mavericks (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

Houston Rockets guard to target #4: Tim Hardaway Jr.

Over the past two seasons, Tim Hardaway Jr has been one of the best high-volume 3-point shooters in the league and has played at least 70 games in two seasons capped at 72 games. If the Rockets need shooting and durability then they can’t do much better than Hardaway.

It’s rare to find a player who can convert 39.4-percent of their triple attempts and even rarer to find someone who can do it on 7.4 attempts a game, but that’s exactly what Hardaway has done over the past two seasons. Add in the fact that Hardaway hardly ever turns the ball over and he emerges as one of the league’s most efficient offensive contributors.

Hardaway isn’t exactly young, he’ll turn 30 next March, but he is still firmly in his prime and could give the Rockets a real boost over the next two seasons. If the goal is to get better next season, then going after Hardaway is a no-brainer.

However, the Rockets will need to splurge to get Hardaway in Houston for all the reasons that make him so enticing. He’s coming off of a contract that paid him $70.9 million over four seasons and he’s done nothing to earn a significant drop in pay.

The Rockets probably don’t want to commit a large sum to a player entering their 30’s just as they enter the first phase of their rebuild. Hardaway is a really good player and if the Rockets can either land him at a slight discount or on a short-term deal then they need to be aggressive.

If Hardaway is as productive in Houston as he was in Dallas then no matter his deal he’ll be a valuable trade chip. If the Rockets look to go after a veteran to bolster their backcourt, their trade value is just as important as their on-court production.

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