5 Obvious, 5 subtle moves Jason Kidd must make to turn Mavs into legit contenders

9. Subtle: Bring Jaden Hardy into the rotation

Jaden Hardy is someone whose minutes have fluctuated heavily this season, and one move that could make the Dallas Mavericks legit NBA Finals contenders is Jason Kidd bringing Hardy back into the rotation.

Hardy brings energy on both ends of the floor and has a knack for scoring the ball. The Mavs don't necessarily need more scoring, but Hardy is clearly better than one of Dallas' other options as a scorer off the bench, and we'll discuss that more later.

This season for Dallas, Hardy is averaging 7.7 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 40.5 percent from the field and 36.5 percent from 3-point land. These stats are even with a rough start to the season for Hardy, and he has proved that Kidd needs to give him a chance.

Outside of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Hardy is the third-best isolation scorer on this roster. He has been a much better driver and finisher this season, and his mid-range jumper off the dribble has also improved.

Hardy seems to make a positive impact every time that he is in the game, and his energy is contagious. The American Airlines Center crowd always seems to have a different energy when Hardy is knocking down shots, and he is one of the best shooters off the catch on the team.

Kidd should consider using Hardy as a spark plug off the bench while also giving him some minutes alongside Doncic. His offensive versatility should not be wasted, and his improvements as a defender are promising.