After a strong season with the Denver Nuggets, Tim Hardaway Jr has decided to join the Miami Heat on a one-year deal worth $6.5 million. It was a sensible move from a salary point of view, with Denver unable to match that figure.
Hardaway agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Heat, sources said. Miami officials finalized the deal with Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports tonight. https://t.co/c47Tx4D1KX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2026
Miami aren’t wasting any time. After making a splash by landing Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Florida franchise has kept moving with a signing that is as quiet as it is smart. ESPN, NBA on Prime and The Athletic report that Tim Hardaway Jr will join the Heat for one season on a $6.5 million deal.
On paper, it may not have the same buzz as a superstar arrival. But on a team chasing a title, moves like this can matter just as much. Miami adds a veteran who can bring instant perimeter shooting, experience and scoring off the bench. Three things that tend to matter when the playoffs get tight and every possession starts to feel like a fistfight.
A three-point specialist
At 34, Tim Hardaway Jr is still doing what he does best: knocking down shots from deep. Last season, in his first year with the Denver Nuggets, the guard averaged 13.5 points while hitting an excellent 40.7% from three-point range.
TIM HARDAWAY JR HAS SIGNED WITH THE MIAMI HEAT
PAT RILEY GOT HIMSELF A SHOOTER pic.twitter.com/jcxflMvoxK
— The HEAT Realm (@WadexFlash) June 30, 2026
More importantly, he led all NBA reserves in made threes with 205. That kind of consistency even earned him third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.
That sort of instant scoring is exactly what Miami needed. When defenses load up on Giannis Antetokounmpo, the open looks have to be punished. Hardaway is one of those players who needs barely half a second to turn a possession into three points.
The Heat are building out the bench
This signing also says plenty about Miami’s ambitions. A team with title hopes does not just build a starting five. It strengthens the rotation with players who can swing a game in a matter of minutes. Hardaway ticks every box. He knows the pressure of the big stage, accepts his role and brings a skill that has become essential in the modern NBA: shooting from outside.
In a loaded Eastern Conference, every possession will count. Miami know it and are still putting together a deep, balanced roster built to carry Giannis into the spring.
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