4 Dallas Mavericks players who need more minutes, 3 who need less over final stretch

5. Needs more minutes: Jaden Hardy

Jaden Hardy receiving more minutes goes hand in hand with Tim Hardaway Jr. receiving fewer minutes, and Hardy has proved time and time again that he deserves to be in the rotation.

This season for Dallas, Hardy is averaging 7.9 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.3 steals per game while shooting 40.7 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from downtown. Hardy's rough start to the season is part of the reason that his scoring and efficiency numbers are down from last season, but his performance as of late has been excellent.

Hardy's growth as a playmaker has been clear, and this gives the Mavs offense a dimension that it doesn't have when Hardaway Jr. is on the floor. His reads and decision-making have been much better, and his ability to make skip passes and push the ball in transition is underrated.

Hardy looks much more comfortable as a playmaker, and he is letting the game come to him rather than having tunnel vision. Hardaway Jr.'s tunnel vision has been detrimental to the Mavs as of late, and Hardy's multi-dimensional offensive game has grown over the last few months.

Although both Hardaway Jr. and Hardy aren't elite defenders, it's clear that Hardy has the edge in this category. He also has a bigger wingspan and provides more versatility.