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NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 best shooting guards available

By Dre Elder

Apr 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) dances after hitting a three-pointer during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Hawks won 114-100. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) dances after hitting a three-pointer during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. The Hawks won 114-100. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) dunks against Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) in the third quarter of game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 116-98. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 22, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) dunks against Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) in the third quarter of game three of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 116-98. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Tim Hardaway Jr.

Tim Hardaway Jr. is not the player his father was. He’s bigger, stronger, and has the potential to be better. At 6-foot-6, Hardaway Jr. is a physically imposing shooting guard.  He has exceptional range on his jumper and is explosive attacking the rim. The 25-year-old Michigan product just completed a breakout season in 2016-17. We had previously seen flashes from Hardaway Jr., but he went into full bloom once the Atlanta Hawks traded away incumbent starter Kyle Korver.

Hardaway Jr. started 30 games down the stretch for the Hawks. He averaged 17.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists in the new role. On Mar. 3, he fried the Cleveland Cavaliers for a career-high 36 points in 35 minutes. It was quite the coming-out party against an elite opponent. Hardaway Jr. showed consistency by only registering three single-digit scoring outputs after Feb. 1. He needs to improve defensively, but he still ranked 15th among all shooting guards in Real Plus-Minus.

Next: NBA Free Agency 2017 -- One signing every team should make

The good news for the Hawks is Hardaway Jr. is a restricted free agent. The bad news is it will take much more than their qualifying offer of $4.6 million to retain him. He’s probably their best asset, but the Hawks may be unwilling to match a lucrative offer as their priorities seem a bit mixed at the moment. Anyway, teams get incredibly loose with their payrolls during NBA free agency. So expect Hardaway Jr. to rake in the Benjamins. He has the highest ceiling of anyone available at his position.

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