Mavericks extending Jaden Hardy signals rude awakening for Spencer Dinwiddie

After a lengthy offseason, the NBA regular season is finally here as multiple teams tip off their season tonight. Not only will the defending champs, the Boston Celtics, be able to hoist their first championship banner for the first time since 2008, but the hunt for the Larry O'Brien trophy will start over for 29 other franchises.

The Dallas Mavericks are one of those 29 teams that could be considered a legit contender with the moves they made this offseason and the superstars they already have on the roster. The team made a slew of offseason moves but no move may have been more impactful than the signing of future hall-of-famer Klay Thompson.

While the Mavericks bolstered the front half of their roster, the team also paid special attention to their two-way spots. After shining in four games during the Mavericks' preseason schedule, guard Jazian Gortman finally received his first two-way roster spot.

With the team's 18-man roster finalized, Nico Harrison and the Mavericks front office understood they needed to make one more move to lock down one of the team's future pieces.

Hardy's new extension signals Mavericks trust him more than Dinwiddie

Signing Jaden Hardy to a three-year, $18 million extension may not have been on most Mavs fans' radars, but the deal could signal the Mavericks trust in him over another guard on the roster.

In four preseason games, the narrative on Hardy has completely flipped amongst Mavericks fans. Hardy went from being in constant hypothetical trade talks (from fans) over the summer to being discussed as a potential cornerstone piece in the team's championship aspirations this season.

After signing Spencer Dinwiddie in the summer for his second stint in Dallas, Hardy's role on the Mavericks became less clear. Fans understood there would be a battle for minutes between these two former teammates and through four preseason games, Hardy has emerged as the clear winner.

In what Dinwiddie has lacked this preseason, Hardy has shined. The third-year guard looks to have refined his jump shot while also taking on a more playmaking role off the bench.

Throughout Dinwiddie's career, he has made a living being one of the team's best shot-creators while also being able to knock down the 3-point shot at an above-average rate. Since being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2023, Dinwiddie's age has begun to show.

Last season, Dinwiddie took a step down in his efficiency on the offensive end. In 48 games with the Nets, Dinwiddie's coveted 3-point shot took a huge dip. The former Mav would only be able to convert at 32 percent from behind the arc while shooting less than 40 percent from the field.

What's worse is these struggles seemed to have followed him this summer to Dallas.

Throughout the preseason, Dinwiddie has struggled to find his identity on the offensive end. The 11-year veteran has constantly turned the ball over while looking lost within the Mavericks system.

It's unclear if Dinwiddie needs time to get comfortable in Dallas or if he has truly lost a step in these last few seasons. Last season may have been the first signal of what is to come for Dinwiddie's future role in the league.

With Hardy's extension being finalized, this could mean that the Mavericks favor him over Dinwiddie after his constant struggles over the last year and a half. Hardy still has a lot to prove before he can be called the definitive ball handler off the bench, but all signs are pointing to Hardy winning the rotational battle over Dinwiddie.