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

The Dallas Mavericks saw an opportunity in the 2022 NBA Draft that was too good to pass up, and they seized it. They had traded both of their picks before draft night, but when Jaden Hardy slipped into the second round, the Mavs sent two future seconds to the Kings to draft the 6’4 guard.

Hardy was the number two player in his class coming out of high school ahead of Paolo Banchero and Jabari Smith Jr., but he slipped into the second round after an uneven season playing for the G League Ignite. He averaged 19.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals in 32.6 minutes per game, but Hardy shot just 37.6 percent from the field and 30.9 percent on his threes. Shot selection and decision-making were issues behind his struggles.

The 20-year-old has showcased his potential in the early stages of training camp. Here is a look at why he has the talent to break into the Mavericks rotation this season, and what could hold him back.

Dallas Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy's catch and shoot 3-pointers look NBA ready

Hardy is a natural scorer with a strong base. He has a smooth release that resulted in two catch and shoot 3-pointers in the team’s Fan Jam on Oct. 1. The 20-year-old is never afraid to fire away when open, and he can connect from long range. Fans can see one of his catch and shoot threes from Fan Jam below.

Catch and shoot threes are a must as Hardy will have to share the floor with Luka Doncic if he is going to play a significant role for the Mavericks this season. The 6’4 guard had zero issues spotting up in the corner and firing away when left uncovered.

Jaden Hardy’s catch-and-shoot ability could allow him to play next to number 77, but the 20-year-old brings a different dimension to the team as well.

Jaden Hardy could add a transition element for the Dallas Mavericks

The Mavs played at the slowest pace in the NBA last season, and they created the fewest transition opportunities. Luka Doncic loves to control the tempo and slow things down, but getting out in transition could mean a few extra easy baskets each night.

Hardy runs after every missed shot and turnover. He wants to get out in transition and create some easy buckets. It is also where the 20-year-old showcased his best decision-making during the Mavericks Fan Jam scrimmage. Four times Dallas got out in transition and Hardy had two assists, including this lob to Christian Wood in overtime.

The Mavs second unit will likely play faster this season to keep defenses off balance. Spencer Dinwiddie excels at getting downhill, and Jaden Hardy could add a transition element that helps them generate open looks. The 20-year-old played off the ball during the scrimmage, but he has the vision to make some plays, especially when the defense is not set.

Hardy impressed the most on this play because Dwight Powell stopped the fast break. Instead of barreling towards the rim, the Mavericks rookie gave the ball up and re-spaced the floor for a wide-open 3-pointer.

Jaden Hardy played his best in transition during the Mavericks Fan Jam, and he could add a new element to the team’s attack this season if he cracks the rotation.

Dallas Mavericks rookie Jaden Hardy is confident and believes he is an NBA player

Hardy plays with energy, and he has infectious confidence and swagger. The 20-year-old believes he is an NBA player, and he competes hard every time on the floor.

The NBA came in to film training camp live on Sept. 30, and the Mavs were doing one-on-one drills where the guard picked their defender. Hardy did not back down from the challenge as he went against Maxi Kleber, and got the entire gym hyped with this incredible finish.

The 6’4 guard took Luka Doncic one-on-one the next day during Fan Jam and scored a layup. Hardy does not back down from a challenge. He embraces them. The 20-year-old spent the entire summer in Dallas working on his game, and he is ready to prove that he belongs in an NBA rotation from day one.

Hardy can handle the ball and create for others, but the Mavericks cannot give him too much too soon. Fans can see him running a pick and roll with Christian Wood below where he finds the big man with a perfect pass for an easy score.

Jaden Hardy is a talented guard with the confidence of an NBA player, but he needs to improve his game in three areas to be in the Dallas 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.