This Mavericks player might be packing his bags sooner than expected

Last season, the Dallas Mavericks signed Jaden Hardy to a three-year, 18 million contract extension. It was a move that Hardy earned after multiple surges in the 2024 NBA Playoffs. He played a huge role off the bench, as he scored 13 points in 12 minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves in Games 5 and 13 points in 11 minutes in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Plus, there was plenty of optimism to believe he would make an immediate jump in his third year, as most players find success after their sophomore season. Additionally, Hardy did make minor improvements. He upped his points per game by 1.4 and shot 2.8 percent better than the year prior. So, on paper, everything seemed to be headed in the right direction.

However, it seems Dallas may be ready to part ways with their young shooting guard. Last season, Jason Kidd showed distrust in Hardy, and the Mavs may be prepared to move on. The team's roster is loaded with 16 players, as Dallas re-signed Dante Exum to a one-year deal last month. This means that the team will eventually need to make a move to clear up space, implying Hardy or Olivier-Maxence Prosper could be the odd man out.

Mavericks should consider trading Jaden Hardy

Last season, Hardy struggled to make a major leap. He declined in both assists and rebounds per game and increased his turnover ratio. It was a move fans hated to see, as Hardy also regressed at the free-throw line. His decline forced Kidd to shake up Hardy's minutes and put him in an awkward spot that was filled with uncertainty.

Hardy averaged 15.9 minutes per game last season, a 2.4 percent increase from the prior season. However, Hardy's increased time wouldn't work in his favor. Hardy started off the new year averaging 17.2 minutes per game in January, but by February, his numbers dropped to 13 minutes. He played a season-high 23 minutes per game in April, after numerous players dealt with injuries.

Yet, his increased minutes failed to impress Kidd come playoff time. The Dallas coach showed a lack of trust in Hardy in the Play-In Tournament, after he played two minutes in the team's first game. Hardy then got no playing time in the team's final play-in game, proving Kidd didn't view him as an asset in big games.

The main issue was Hardy's scoring mentality. He is a ball-savvy guard who lacks the basic assets of a true guard. Hardy isn't a guy who will always find the open man or set up plays for his teammates; he is much better off the ball. Not to mention, his one-dimensional style proves he lacks the defensive assets to keep up with some of the top guards in the league.

For example, in his final regular-season game, Hardy struggled to prove his worth. He scored 17 points, but shot 22 percent from the 3-point line and had three turnovers. Not to mention his defense was all over the place, as Hardy failed to keep up with the Memphis Grizzlies' young guards. Hardy finished the game with a -44 +/-, meaning his production was worthless.

So, the Hardy experiment may be coming to an end sooner rather than later. His contract and money don't live up to his production on the court. Plus, with Dallas trying to find a way to add Exum to the roster, moving Hardy makes the most sense. The Mavs must now move on from the Hardy experiment.

Dallas will need to quickly find a way to lock up Exum. The team needs all the guard depth it can get, and Exum has proven he fits the team's criteria. Not to mention, his defense is a step up from Hardy's. Exum is also a two-way guard who can switch between the point and shooting guard roles. A Hardy trade seems to be on the team's horizon.