The Denver Nuggets are making a strong push to return to the NBA Finals following back-to-back early playoff exits, and they have added another proven piece to their roster. As free agency continues, the Nuggets have signed former Detroit Pistons guard Tim Hardaway Jr., a veteran sharpshooter with playoff experience.
The move is designed to strengthen the team around superstar center Nikola Jokic and give Denver a better shot at another deep postseason run. With this addition, the Nuggets hope to compete at the top of a loaded Western Conference.
Hardaway Jr. Becomes The Nuggets’ Latest Sharpshooter For Renewed Championship Hopes
The signing of Hardaway, first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania on Tuesday afternoon (July 1), gives Denver a proven shooter to help space the floor. Hardaway agreed to a one-year deal, with the financial terms not yet disclosed. His agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, helped finalize the contract.
Free agent sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. has agreed to a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, sources tell ESPN. Hardaway had a strong season for the Pistons’ resurgent 2024-25 campaign and now Denver officials finalize a deal with Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports. pic.twitter.com/XUaslGumBf
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025
Hardaway played a key role for the Pistons last season, appearing in 77 games and helping the team reach the playoffs for the first time since 2019. He averaged 11 points and 2.4 rebounds per game, while shooting 36.8% from three-point range and logging 28 minutes per contest.
Only Malik Beasley made more three-pointers for Detroit, finishing with 319 compared to Hardaway’s 168. Hardaway joined the Pistons the summer before last season, arriving from the Dallas Mavericks in a trade for Quentin Grimes and three future second-round picks.
Detroit lost Hardaway, as well as another veteran with playoff experience, point guard Dennis Schroeder, who agreed to a deal with the Sacramento Kings earlier in the day. In Detroit’s first-round playoff loss to the New York Knicks, Hardaway started every game and averaged 12 points on 31% shooting. The Pistons lost the series in six games.
The Pistons had hoped to keep Hardaway, the son of Hall of Famer Tim Hardaway, along with other free agents, but team president Trajan Langdon stated last week that they “aren’t going to be super aggressive” in free agency, preferring to rebuild internally, according to The Athletic. So far, only forward Paul Reed has agreed to return to the Pistons.
With the addition of Hardaway, the Nuggets have added another piece to their offseason haul. They acquired forward Cam Johnson from the Brooklyn Nets on Monday (June 30) in exchange for Michael Porter Jr., traded for veteran center Jonas Valanciunas with the Sacramento Kings, and brought back guard Bruce Brown Jr., who played a key role in their 2023 championship run.
These moves are intended to keep Denver competitive in a challenging Western Conference and position the team for another shot at a title.
