The Dallas Mavericks have won nine of their last ten and look like a serious threat to repeat as Western Conference champions. They are using their added depth to reach a new level. Dallas is less reliant on Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving to create every shot, which improves their odds of making a deep playoff run. Spencer Dinwiddie has shined in his return, but Jaden Hardy is struggling to begin this season.
The 22-year-old signed a three-year $18 million extension in October. Many expected the value contract would put Hardy firmly in the rotation and guarantee his spot as a role player moving forward. He has shown flashes in his first two seasons, but the 6’4 guard’s production is down in year three.
Hardy has been inconsistent and is struggling mightily in the area the Mavs need him most. His advanced metrics paint him as one of the worst players in the NBA, and Dallas cannot keep giving him minutes without improved production.
Jaden Hardy is becoming unplayable for the Mavericks
He averaged 6.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.7 steals in 15.0 minutes per game through 21 appearances. His scoring, rebounding, and assists are down, despite Hardy averaging the most minutes of his career. He is shooting just 37.0 percent from the field and 28.6 percent on his 3-point attempts.
It can be frustrating to watch the 22-year-old lock in on the basket. There are possessions every night where he is set on shooting regardless of what the defense throws at him. Hardy is far from a lockdown defender and must provide value on offense. He cannot do that without playing in the flow of the group.
The Mavericks need him to make catch-and-shoot threes and attack closeouts. He is shooting just 31.9 percent on 41 3-point attempts off the catch and is 16 of 55 on open triples. Hardy won’t be one of their top-scoring options, so improvement in this area is a must if he wants to play a consistent role.
The 6’4 guard is in the bottom ten in the NBA in win shares and value over replacement player (VORP). He has produced a negative win shares per 48 minutes and has the fifth-worst true shooting percentage among the 200 qualifying players. Dallas has a 121.0 offensive rating when Hardy is on the bench, but it drops to 109.6 with him in the game. No matter how fans slice it, the numbers are abysmal.
The Dallas Mavericks have their eyes on the championship. They reached the NBA Finals last season and have twice made the conference finals since 2022. They are focused on winning in the playoffs and must play their best players. Dallas has depth in the backcourt and will have to dump Jaden Hardy from the rotation. Let Dinwiddie and Quentin handle the bench minutes in the backcourt. That is the Mavs' path to maximizing their potential.
