The Knicks offered way too much money to Tim Hardaway Jr. late on Thursday night, and fans weren’t happy about the move, to say the least.
Like the phrase goes, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. Apparently that’s how the New York Knicks felt about Tim Hardaway Jr., as they offered the current Atlanta Hawks restricted free agent a massive offer sheet.
Late Thursday night, news broke that Hardaway Jr. was offered a four-year, $71 million offer sheet by the Knicks, and everyone who thought that Phil Jackson’s departure would fix the team’s front office situation realized they were completely wrong.
Just two years ago, the team traded Hardaway Jr. during the 2015 NBA Draft, in return for a first-round pick and Jerian Grant. Now, they get an improved version of Hardaway Jr., at a pretty hefty price.
The Hawks still have a few days to match the deal, but Knicks fans are now in a panic about whether or not they’ll be paying an absurd amount of money to a player they already experimented with in New York.
Obviously Twitter had a field day with the move, and everyone quickly roasted the organization for the huge amount of money they just threw into a burning dumpster. To help you out, here are some of the best tweets out there about the Knicks offering their entire savings account to Hardaway Jr.
New York drafted him, traded him away, and now they just gave him $71 million. The Knicks just have to do everything the Hardaway
— sreekar (@sreekyshooter) July 7, 2017
Knicks fans after Phil was fired: "no one can possibly hand out a worse contract than that Joakmin Noah deal"
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) July 7, 2017
Steve Mills: "hold my beer" https://t.co/ciePdPr91b
Knicks just gave Tim Hardaway Jr $71M. pic.twitter.com/M1kIDfrnhj
— Top Ball Coverage (@TopBallCoverage) July 7, 2017
Knicks have signed Tim Hardaway Jr. to a four-year $71 million offer-sheet. pic.twitter.com/vhl9wwr2XW
— The Knicks Wall (@TheKnicksWall) July 7, 2017
The Knicks sold the Hawks their underwhelming Hyundai, saw Atlanta added new transmission and bought it back at like 20x the price.
— Verts (@_Verts) July 7, 2017
#Knicks wait days without signing anyone, let Phil go, and give Hardaway Jr a 4 year $71 mil contract? pic.twitter.com/uKVBNQ3Gjy
— Dykstra (@dykstra28) July 7, 2017
Tim Hardaway Sr., career NBA earnings: $49 million.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) July 7, 2017
Tim Hardaway Jr., current Knicks contract: $71 million.
https://twitter.com/NYKBluePaint/status/883166502626742272
Shams: "The New York Knicks have signed --"
— Sports Pepper (@sportspepper) July 7, 2017
Knicks fans: "Here it is!"
Shams: "Tim Hardaway Jr. to a 4-year, $71m deal."
Knicks fans: pic.twitter.com/CSurzJxJgu
Knicks fans on my timeline right now pic.twitter.com/ihbcOhIqB5
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) July 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/Suggie2Necklace/status/883167718052155393
.@knicks have been suspiciously quiet in #nba free agency. They just made their grand entrance, I guess... pic.twitter.com/joLDkEj4KV
— Jeff Laboon (@JeffLaboon) July 7, 2017
Knicks gave this dude $71 million? pic.twitter.com/HfjIybQQ1r
— William Lou (@william_lou) July 7, 2017
Next: 30 richest players in the NBA
Obviously nothing is official yet, and Hardaway Jr. may make just as much money in a return to the Hawks this fall rather than having to endure the pain that is playing for the Knicks. However, it doesn’t look promising for those in New York looking for their team to not make any more mistakes than they already have.
For now, just hope and pray that the Hawks are dumb enough to match the deal, Knicks fans.