Will the Dallas Mavericks bench their rising star? Insider makes shocking prediction

The Dallas Mavericks pulled off an exciting draft day move in the 2022 NBA Draft as they traded into the second round and drafted Jaden Hardy.

No one expected Dallas to pick a player in this draft, as they didn't have a pick, but they shocked everyone and ended up drafting one of the biggest steals in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Hardy averaged 8.8 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game as a rookie for the Mavs while shooting 40.4 percent from downtown. He was one of Dallas' best isolation scorers and played amazingly by the time that March and April rolled around.

Will the Dallas Mavericks bench their rising star? Insider makes shocking prediction

In March, Hardy averaged 15.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game and shot 50 percent from three. He was one of Dallas' most consistent players and showed flashes that he can be a star in the NBA.

Despite an outstanding rookie year, one Mavericks Insider believes that Hardy will be outside the rotation this season. In an episode of "Take Dat With You," Brian Dameris and Mark Followill talked about the Mavericks' potential rotation next season, and Dameris didn't include Hardy.

Dameris' predicted 10-man rotation for Dallas is Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, Josh Green, Grant Williams, Dwight Powell, Tim Hardaway Jr., Seth Curry, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, Maxi Kleber, and Richaun Holmes. Although this is just a prediction at this point, he doesn't think Hardy will be in Dallas' 10-man rotation.

Dameris mentioned that he thinks Curry and Hardy will flip-flop in the lineup and fight for minutes, but doesn't seem to think Hardy will be a vital piece of Dallas' rotation from the jump. His opinion is valid as he is a valuable source when it comes to the Mavericks, but Hardy not being in the rotation would be frustrating.

Followill disagreed with Damreis' take on Hardy, as he said, "I think Hardy is in the rotation more than you think." Hardy looked like he could turn into the Mavericks' sixth man of the future, but Dallas' acquisitions this summer could push him further down the rotation than most fans want.

Will Jaden Hardy be in Dallas' rotation next season or will he see his minutes significantly decrease?

That question will be answered in a few months, and we'll have you covered with all the latest news and rumors surrounding the Mavs leading up to the start of the season.