Mavericks' polarizing guard suddenly looks like trade bait with beloved rookie's rise

While the Dallas Mavericks are now 1-2 in Summer League following a blowout loss to the Charlotte Hornets, the most important part of Summer League is already over after No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg ended his Summer League in defiant fashion by dropping 31 points in his last game before being shut down. Dallas' second most interesting prospect in Summer League in Ryan Nembhard has done solid through three games in Las Vegas as well.

Nembhard finished with 11 points and eight assists off 4-8 shooting from the field versus the Hornets, as he further displayed his three-level scoring ability and pick-and-roll playmaking just like in his first game in Vegas, as he bounced back after a rough shooting game versus the San Antonio Spurs. It's still early into Nembhard's NBA tenure, and fans and analysts will need to see him on the big stage before fully embracing this assumption, but he could give the Mavericks enough back-court relief to be able to move off Jaden Hardy via trade next season.

Hardy's had an up-and-down tenure through three seasons in Dallas, as he's had some wild sequences where he looks dynamic, but repetitively goes through dry spells that hinder his overall consistency. Hardy has barely shown improvement in Dallas through three seasons, barring his spot-up shooting, as he needs to impact the game more defensively or as a playmaker if his three-level scoring ability proves to continue to be inconsistent.

Nembhard's ascension could further drive a potential Hardy trade

It's no secret that Dallas' No. 1 need heading into the offseason was a stopgap guard, and they resolved that issue by virtue of signing D'Angelo Russell. However, the guard position is still the weakest positional group on Dallas' roster until Kyrie Irving returns from his torn ACL, and the Mavericks could certainly use a fourth guard in their rotation to sure things up with Irving out, and this spot will undoubtedly go to either Hardy or Nembhard, as Russell, Brandon Williams, and Dante Exum already looking like prospective rotation players unless something changes.

If Nembhard can be a true threat from outside at the NBA level, he may have a really good chance to surpass Hardy in the rotation, even if he'll still be on a two-way deal. Nembhard's change of pace and mid-range ability have been elite in the Summer League, and he could play either guard position for the Mavericks offensively, though he's certainly best suited guarding smaller guards on the other end of the ball.

Despite his lack of size, Nembhard still gets after it defensively, as he was heavily affecting No. 4 overall pick Kon Knueppel in yesterday's game when navigating through ball screens off-ball. Nembhard may even be a better defender than Hardy despite having a severe height and weight disadvantage, but this can only be theorized until fans and analysts see Nembhard having to guard some of the league's best at the point-of-attack.

Hardy has been a name Mavericks fans have been monitoring for a while as far as trade rumors are concerned, and it wouldn't be surprising if he ends up being shipped out in a deal next deadline. Dallas has to trade someone before the regular season starts if they want to keep Exum, as Hardy and Olivier-Maxence Prosper are the two most likely candidates to be consolidated elsewhere.

However, the guard battle is still very much for the taking, and Hardy could come into this year playing better and with a different demeanor, especially if head coach Jason Kidd can do a better job of playing him off-ball. Hardy is one of the most interesting players to watch on the roster in terms of how he starts the season, as it could have heavy implications on Dallas trading him elsewhere to free up time for a potentially better prospect in Nembhard.