Mavs Trade Of Jaden Hardy: Better for Future or Keep as Scorer?

With a crucial offseason rapidly approaching for the Mavericks to put a contending roster around Luka Doncic, DB.com analyzes Jaden Hardy's future in Dallas.

Michael Mulford | May 19, 2023

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Dallas Mavericks

After a rather disappointing season, the Dallas Mavericks face a summer of franchise-altering decisions in hopes of bouncing back from a playoff-less campaign. As Dallas attempts to build a contending team around Luka Doncic, a checklist of offseason decisions includes the future of Mavericks guard Jaden Hardy.

Through his rookie season, Hardy had to fight and claw to find a consistent spot in coach Jason Kidd's rotation, who was questioned by the media numerous times about the rookie's role. But once Hardy did get his shot, the kid proved to be a confident three-level scorer. In 48 games this season, Hardy averaged 8.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game while shooting 40 percent from downtown on just over three attempts per game.

In March, while both Doncic and Kyrie Irving battled injuries, Hardy saw his minutes increase, averaging 15.6 points per game on 45 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent from 3-point range in just under 24 minutes per game through 11 contests.

Hardy now enters his second season with two years, $3,74 million remaining on his rookie deal before becoming a restricted free agent prior to his fourth season.

With the scoring punch that Hardy showed this season, more minutes seem to be ahead entering next season. And with the uncertainty of the future of Tim Hardaway Jr., Hardy could catapult into that sixth man role if THJ is indeed traded this offseason.

Like Josh Green, unless a trade for a win-now piece or anchor to Dallas' defense comes available and he's necessary piece to the deal, we'd expect to see Hardy back in a Mavericks uniform for his sophomore season. ... while at the same time hoping that he's a helper on a good team rather than just a spot-filler on a bad one.

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Published May 19, 2023

MICHAEL MULFORD

Michael Mulford is a writer/editor for Dallas Basketball, where he extensively covers the Dallas Mavericks. He also covers the Chicago Bulls as the Managing Editor for Bulls Wire of USA Today Sports Media Group. Mulford grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and graduated from the University of North Texas in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Event, and Sports Management. He began his pursuit of sports writing in 2017 with Dallas Sports Fanatic, where he covered the Mavericks’ G League affiliate, Texas Legends. He then became the Managing Editor of Dallas Sports Fanatic just one year later and has covered the Mavericks as a credentialed media member since 2018, including covering numerous playoff games between 2021-22 and covering the team at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas in 2019. In his time covering the Mavericks, Mulford has conducted numerous interviews for exclusive stories including with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki, former Maverick and current VP of Basketball Ops Michael Finley, former Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson, and more. You can follow and interact with Mulford on Twitter at @TheMulf.