Ranking newly acquired Dallas Mavericks by immediate impact

Ranking newly acquired Dallas Mavericks by immediate impact: 3. Jaden Hardy

The Mavs traded completely out of the draft after dealing for Christian Wood. It cost Dallas the 26th overall pick, and they had already sent their second-rounder to Washington in the Kristaps Porzingis for Spencer Dinwiddie swap. They entered the draft night with zero picks, but as Hardy slipped into the second round, the Mavericks knew they had to get back in.

Ultimately, it cost them two future second-round picks to acquire the 37th overall pick to select the 6’4 guard. Hardy was ranked second in his class coming out of high school in 2021, but his stock dropped significantly after his one season with the G League Ignite where he struggled with his efficiency and ball control.

Hardy is a natural scorer, but he needs time to develop. There is a case to be made that Dorsey should rank over Hardy in this list. The 20-year-old has significantly more long-term upside, but he is not ready for consistent minutes on a contending team next season. He needs time to work on his playmaking and shot selection.

Expect to see Jaden Hardy leading the Legends in scoring plenty this season. Head coach Jason Kidd will give the rookie multiple opportunities with the Dallas Mavericks, but Hardy is just not ready to make a massive impact.