Tim Hardaway was never really in the plans.

It was never designed for Hardaway to stand alongside Alonzo Mourning as the Heat's pillars.

The Heat acquired the point guard in a deadline deal with Golden State looking only to free up salary cap space for the following season.

As it turned out, that wasn't a limp Hardaway arrived in Miami with in February 1996. It was a strut.

That unwavering confidence, along with a pretty good three-point shot and rather effective crossover, made Hardaway not just a quick-fix but a fixture with the Miami Heat until 2001. He became one of the most popular athletes in South Florida just as much for his attitude as for his clutch shooting.

That brashness helped the Heat reach the Eastern Conference finals in 1997. It also caused internal problems as Miami failed three times to get past the New York Knicks in the post-season. And, finally, Hardaway's nerve made his exit from Miami less than pleasant, as the point guard heavily criticized his coach on his way to the Dallas Mavericks.