Mavericks' heated rotation battle rapidly reveals unexpected winner

NBA preseason is full of intense battles whether fans want to realize it or not.

Some players are playing for a contract while others are fighting for a spot in the rotation. This is the time of year that doesn't matter a ton for the starters but is crucial for bench players and guys fighting for one of the final roster spots.

The Dallas Mavericks have had plenty of under-the-radar battles going on during training camp and preseason, with one of the biggest being the backup point guard spot. There has been a logjam at this spot for weeks, but one guard is emerging from the smoke of battle, and looks like he is becoming the favorite to be the first creator off the bench.

Jaden Hardy looks miles ahead of Spencer Dinwiddie so far

Jaden Hardy is playing like the best point guard off the bench for the Mavs through the first three preseason games, and it hasn't been particularly close.

After Dante Exum went down with a wrist injury during training camp, it was clear that this battle would be between Hardy and Spencer Dinwiddie. Exum is reportedly going to be out for about three months, and Hardy has proved that he deserves a consistent role in the rotation while Dinwiddie's play has been rusty.

Through the first three preseason games, Hardy is averaging 16.3 points and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 45.5 percent from downtown. Jason Kidd has been using Hardy as the primary creator for the majority of his minutes this preseason, and this will only help him be ready for an increased role if Kidd decides to give it to him.

Hardy's lob passing has continued to elevate after he showcased this skill in the playoffs last season, and he has shown plenty of growth as a passer over the last six months or so. He knows that his decision-making must continue to improve to have a consistent spot in the rotation, and while it hasn't been perfect, it has shown improvement.

On the other hand, Dinwiddie isn't providing what the Mavs need from him. It was clear before Dallas signed him that he wasn't going to be the same player he was for the Mavs during his first stint, and his play through the first few preseason games has reinforced that notion.

Dinwiddie is averaging 5.7 points per game while shooting 26.3 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from downtown, and he possesses a negative assist-turnover ratio. He hasn't been the trusted ball handler that the Mavs need him to be, and he hasn't done much to create for himself or others.

The high expectations that originally surrounded Dinwiddie joining the Mavs have come crashing down over his last few games, and although it is just preseason, his performances have been concerning. It'll be a whole different ballgame for him once the regular season begins as he'll likely share the court with Luka Doncic or Kyrie Irving and be more of a secondary creator, but he has shown nothing that makes him deserve more minutes to start the season than Hardy.

Thursday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks will be telling for both players' fates to start the season considering it'll likely be as close to a real game as we've seen in the preseason, and another good Hardy performance could confirm that he will leapfrog Dinwiddie in the rotation.

Hardy's 3-point shooting compared to Dinwiddie's looks much more consistent, and his confidence continues to be on another level. Both players' impacts will likely highly depend on whether they can hit open shots while being able to quickly make reads, and this position battle between Hardy and Dinwiddie may have been over before it even began.