Mavericks' controversial offseason gamble is still haunting them today

Last offseason, the Dallas Mavericks signed Jaden Hardy to a three-year, $18 million contract extension. The move was seen as a steal for Dallas, as the team granted Hardy a team-friendly deal. Hardy performed well during the 2024 preseason after showing up big in the Western Conference Finals a few months before. He took advantage of his opportunities with Dante Exum out and Spencer Dinwiddie struggling. So, the deal was seen as a steal for the Mavs.

However, fast-forward to now, and it seems Dallas may be regretting the extension. The Mavs brought back fan-favorite Dennis Smith Jr. to a training camp deal, but he'll likely get cut as Dallas has a surplus of guards. Additionally, they have recently signed Dalano Banton, further crowding their roster. One of the two players mentioned above could easily be brought back had the team not re-signed Hardy last season.

Plus, it doesn't help Hardy's situation that he'll likely struggle finding minutes in the Mavs' rotation. Right now, the team's top point guards heading into the season are D'Angelo Russell, Dante Exum, and Brandon Williams. That'll probably change once Kyrie Irving makes his return. So, again, this puts Hardy in an awkward situation, as Dallas could have fixed this dilemma by not extending him last summer and allowing him to hit free agency.

Jaden Hardy extension continues to become problematic

The problem isn't that Hardy isn't a bad player; it's that he failed to take major strides. Last season, Hardy averaged 8.7 points per game, a 1.4 point increase from the prior season. He also improved his field goal percentage by shooting 43.5 percent. Not to mention, Hardy is a fast, savvy guard who isn't afraid to create his own shot and attack the basket when needed.

There are just some grey areas fans can't get over. For starters, he level of inconsistency can cause a level of headaches. He tends to go on hot and cold streaks on multiple occasions, something fans are accustomed to. For example, in a game against the Utah Jazz on November 30, Hardy scored a mere four points and shot 14.3 percent from the field. He also contributed with three turnovers and missed all of his 3-point attempts. In the game prior, he shot 20 percent and had one turnover.

Hardy improved his performance in the following game, but his lack of stability is one thing fans and coaches are probably tired of. Coach Jason Kidd has even shown a lack of trust in the guard, as he didn't play Hardy in certain moments. Hardy played in two minutes during the Mavs' first play-in game, but saw no action in the team's second match.

Not to mention, Hardy's defense has become a liability. He struggles to become a lockdown defender and fails to keep up with quick young guards. This problem could easily be fixed if Dallas keeps Smith Jr. or Banton on the roster.

Both players mentioned are perfect examples of Nico Harrison's vision of "defense wins championships." Smith Jr. is an excellent point-of-attack defender who excels in various areas of the court. He has a high IQ and can easily read the next pass or the scorer's next move. His defense is a step up from Hardy's and could easily make up for Irving's absence.

Banton, on the other hand, has a lengthy wingspan and can easily force opponents into difficult shots. Plus, he can guard multiple positions and is great at using his quick feet to keep scorers from entering the paint. Like Smith Jr, he too is quick with his hands.

So either Smith Jr. or Banton would be great assets to the Mavs' rotation. Yet, it's unlikely they will be part of the team's roster due to the abundance of players. This could easily be solved if they hadn't re-signed Hardy last season. Dallas would have had the space to bring Smith Jr. or Banton.

Now, nothing says a trade is inevitable, but it's highly likely. Dallas would want to find a trade partner and someone willing to take on Hardy's struggles and inconsistency. The Mavs will have to ride out the Hardy experiment for another season.

Buckle up, Mavs fans, for another season with Hardy on the roster. It's easy to tell Dallas is already regretting his extension before the start of the season. As mentioned, there is a possibility that Hardy could get traded, but it's unlikely. So, the Mavericks have a big decision to make when it comes to their 15-man roster.