Since being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, Jaden Hardy has had a controversial path to the court.
For starters, many fans believed he could be one of Dallas' young guards of the future after a strong rookie showing, but after a downward trend over the last three seasons, Hardy has emerged as a negative asset and may only be known as a shooter.
In the past, Jason Kidd hasn't been shy to throw the ball in Hardy's hands and let him control the offense as well as his scoring output, but this season, Hardy has emerged as a clear shooting-only offensive product. Not only has Hardy proven he plays at his best when he is there to stretch the floor rather than create, but not having the ball in his hands has proven to eliminate some of his turnover and decision-making problems.
Jaden Hardy needs to realize that he is at his best as an off-ball shooter
With the Mavericks' season not going according to plan, some of the team's younger players have received more minutes at times, and that includes Hardy. The former rookie standout may not be receiving the minutes or role every fan envisioned for him after his rookie season, but one thing has become clear for Hardy: he is a floor spacer.
While Hardy's shooting numbers may not reflect that of a natural floor spacing 3-point shooter, he has had some of his best games this season when he plays in a complementary role. For the Mavericks, shooting has always been a huge need, and although Hardy may not be the 3-point sharpshooter teams are searching for, he has found a formula for success.
If Hardy can hone in on his shooting and become more consistent, there could be a reality where he adds real value to a team on his current contract. While his time in Dallas may be coming to a close for all of the wrong reasons, he can still be known as a valuable off-the-bench scorer if he becomes more consistent from deep.
Assuming Hardy did become a knockdown shooter, he has the tools to develop an impressive off-the-dribble game, which is what made him one of the nation's top high school basketball players at one point. Unfortunately, it will all revolve around how well he can shoot the ball.
With the NBA's trade deadline just 12 days away, the Mavericks are still scrambling to either offload some bigger contracts or find a suitor for Hardy. With him increasing his numbers as a shooter, his value may still not be high on the trade market, but it may be enough for a team willing to take a chance on a young flyer guard.
Players like Naji Marshall and Klay Thompson may be headliners in a bigger package, but Hardy could very well be a solid complementary piece at a relatively low asking price for the Mavericks. For fans, it may be a tough sight to see him walk, but Hardy has spent his time in Dallas and learned that he may never be the player fans thought he could be if he only develops into a floor spacer.