One of the first dominoes to fall in free agency had some direct effect on the Denver Nuggets without the Nuggets doing a thing. ESPN's Shams Charania reports Tim Hardaway Jr. left for greener pastures and sandy beaches, and will be joining Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Miami Heat. Hardaway left for a larger contract that the Nuggets couldn't afford to pay him, but his flight for more money swung the door open for Julian Strawther to finally get some extra minutes, and that should be an exciting prospect for the Nuggets.
Strawther isn't much of a downgrade from Hardaway offensively when he's been given the minutes and the chance to shine. Strawther made 14 starts for the Nuggets during the injury-depleted 2025-26 season, and he averaged 14.8 points on 48.4% shooting, plus shot 38.5% from three-point range in 26.5 minutes in those starts.
Hardaway mostly played off the bench and was a finalist for the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year Award. But he played an average of 26.6 minutes across 80 games, averaging 13.5 points on 44.7% shooting, and was just a little better than Strawther at 40.7% from three.
Strawther clearly deserves the shot
For whatever reason, head coach David Adelman didn't want to try out Strawther enough last season, especially in the playoffs when there weren't many options left. Adelman stuck with Hardaway even when he was ice-cold and non-existent at times, like he had been in the playoffs in years before for other franchises. Good luck with that, Miami.
Perhaps part of the reason the Nuggets are considering bringing in more depth in the coaching department is to try some change out next season, and that change should be headed by Strawther getting a larger role.
Adelman has had glowing things to say about Strawther, so the fact that he doesn't get more run is a bit odd in the first place. Strawther's a really good three-point shooter, and he's one of the few Nuggets who can get downhill and drive to the rim. At some point, the Nuggets are going to need to test out the former first-round pick out of Gonzaga, and there will be no better time than when the Nuggets hit training camp and add Strawther to the rotation.
Losing Hardaway stings, sure, he made 224 threes for the Nuggets last season. But Strawther can make a bunch too if he gets more run and the chance to do it. His path is now clearer.
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