4 Dallas Mavericks who improved their trade value in 2023

2. Jaden Hardy

The 20-year-old slipped into the second round of the 2022 draft after an up-and-down season with the G League Ignite. Hardy was the number two player in the class coming out of high school, but he struggled with his shot selection, ball-handling, and efficiency against professional competition. The Mavericks traded two second-round picks to get back into the draft for Hardy.

The 6’4 guard showed his immense potential. He is a bucket that earned a role with the team in both the short and long-term. Hardy averaged 8.8 points in just 14.8 minutes and shot over 40 percent from 3-point range as a rookie.

There is still a lot of room to grow, and he already outperformed several first-round picks. Hardy’s ability to score from anywhere on the floor and provide an offensive boost is welcomed. The 20-year-old has a floor as a sixth-man scorer with time to improve his all-around game.

If the Dallas Mavericks pull off another blockbuster this summer, Jaden Hardy could be a key piece that heads the other way. Rebuilding teams will be interested in a 20-year-old scorer that they could build into a dynamic offensive weapon. Can Dallas find that trade? Does it make sense to give up on Hardy to improve immediately? The Mavs should be interested if they can find a difference-maker right now.