Jaden Hardy has the talent to push his way into the Mavericks rotation as a rookie

Jaden Hardy needs to improve in 3 areas if he wants to crack the Dallas Mavericks rotation

Hardy is a 20-year-old rookie, who is still adjusting to the pace of play in the NBA. He has a leg up after spending last season playing for the G League Ignite, but things are faster at the next level.

The biggest knocks on Hardy last season were his shot selection and decision-making. Hardy can score from anywhere on the floor, but he shot 37.6 percent from the field because he was too eager to get buckets. That overconfidence resulted in him committing 3.4 turnovers per game and having nearly a one-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio.

The rookie needs to fire away when open, but give the ball up when he is not. He struggled with his shot selection and decision-making during summer league, and it is a work in progress for a 20-year-old who is used to being the best player on the court.

Hardy needs to work on his defense too. He got caught ball-watching multiple times during the Mavericks scrimmage, and he needs to stay in front of his man. Head coach Jason Kidd preaches defense, so the 6’4 guard will not crack the rotation without being able to hold his own on this end of the floor.

Jaden Hardy has the talent to crack the Dallas Mavericks rotation as a rookie. He adds a transition element and gives the team another plus shooter, but he must improve his defense and shot selection to get on the court. Will Hardy be part of the team’s rotation this season? Stay tuned to see how he develops as the year progresses.