For the second consecutive offseason, veteran sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. is headed back to the free agency market. After delivering one of his most impactful seasons in recent memory with the Denver Nuggets, the 34-year-old 12-year NBA veteran could attract competitive offers from around the league. However, according to one prominent voice, the Nuggets should approach his situation with a firm, business-first mindset unlike any he has faced before in his career.
Logan Struck of Sports Illustrated delivered a clear recommendation: the Nuggets should let Hardaway test the open market, but remain open to bringing him back to Colorado — provided it’s on a veteran minimum contract. Anything more, Struck argues, and Denver should move on without hesitation.
“Tim Hardaway Jr. was another surprisingly impactful player in Denver this season, ultimately becoming a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year award and finishing third in voting,” Struck wrote. “While Hardaway Jr. shined with 17 games of 20 or more points, he also finished the season with 23 games of fewer than ten points. If Hardaway Jr. is willing to come back to Denver on another veteran minimum contract, it could be worth it for the Nuggets. However, at any other price, the Nuggets should easily be able to replace his production.”
A Career Renaissance in Denver
Hardaway enjoyed a strong bounce-back campaign in 2025-26, appearing in 80 games for the Nuggets and averaging 13.5 points per game while shooting a respectable 40.7% from three-point range. His ability to stretch the floor and provide instant offense off the bench proved valuable alongside Nikola Jokic, helping Denver maintain contention in the Western Conference.
The Texas native’s scoring outbursts — including 17 games with 20+ points — showcased the scoring punch that once made him a sought-after free agent. Yet his inconsistency, highlighted by nearly two dozen games in single digits, underscores the reality of his age and role at this stage of his career.
Financial Reality and Roster Priorities
The Nuggets’ front office has made its summer intentions explicit: build the best possible roster around the untouchable Nikola Jokic. That mission may require difficult decisions, from re-signing key rotation players to potentially parting ways with others, regardless of their contributions.
Money remains tight in Denver. The team faces a looming extension for rising star Peyton Watson and the very real possibility of a massive supermax extension for Jokic himself. In that context, overpaying a 34-year-old veteran — even one who had a Sixth Man of the Year-caliber season on a $2.2 million deal — is a luxury the Nuggets likely cannot afford.
Hardaway’s previous minimum-salary pact delivered excellent value. Repeating that arrangement would allow Denver to retain his shooting and experience without compromising financial flexibility. But if the market pushes his asking price higher, the Nuggets appear prepared to let him walk.
The Right Approach?
There is no guarantee Hardaway will return for a second season in Denver. At this point in his career, the former first-round pick may seek a larger role or a more lucrative short-term deal elsewhere. For the Nuggets, the calculus is simple: value above loyalty.
As the offseason heats up, all eyes will be on how Denver handles its veteran sharpshooter. In a league that often rewards sentimentality, the Nuggets may choose the colder, more calculated path — handling a 12-year warhorse like he’s never been handled before: strictly on merit and cap-sheet math.
Whether Hardaway returns on a minimum deal or finds a new home will say as much about the current state of the Nuggets’ contention window as it does about the player himself.