6 Most underpaid Dallas Mavericks players for 2024-25 season

1. Jaden Hardy

The Dallas Mavericks made a big move in the 2022 NBA Draft when they traded into the second round to draft Jaden Hardy. Hardy was a top recruit coming out of high school and was solid for the G League Ignite, so Dallas took a chance on him and drafted him.

Hardy is set to make just over $2 million next season, and that is nothing considering his importance to the team. He has seen his role fluctuate over the last two years, but he showed the type of player he can be when he is at his best in the Western Conference Finals.

Last season, Hardy averaged 7.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 36.2 percent from downtown, and although this was a slight dip from his strong rookie year, he still has the tools to be a dynamic scorer off the bench.

During the playoffs, Hardy took huge strides as a playmaker and he played big minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Hardy turned into a good lob passer, and his poise helped earn him minutes.

Hardy didn't receive the same minutes in the NBA Finals, but it's clear that he is someone the Mavs should continue to develop. He has the potential to grow into Dallas' sixth man of the future, and he is too talented to give up on.

Hardy will become a restricted free agent this summer, and if they want to keep him, they may have to outbid a couple of rebuilding teams who are looking for scoring off the bench.

$2 million for a good role player is outstanding value, and Hardy will set his price for next summer by his performance in his make-or-break third season.