The Dallas Mavericks have made their selection in the 2022 NBA draft, taking a flier on Jaden Hardy with the 37th overall pick. The 19-year-old prospect has one of the highest upsides of the draft, offering a low-risk gamble in the latter half of the first round.
The Kings originally held the 37th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft. However, the Mavs decided to trade of their future second-rounders to Sacramento to be able to draft Hardy.
A year ago, Hardy was touted as one of the best prospects in the entire 2022 NBA draft class. His off the bounce scoring ability and high-level ball handling skills painted him as a potential backcourt star in the future.
But after a rough stint on the G League Ignite roster, his stock has plummeted as a result. Jaden Hardy tallied averages of 17.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 12 contests.
While his counting stats look fine, it was the efficiency that hurt him. Hardy shot just 35.1 percent from the field and 26.9 percent from the three-point line. He also averaged more turnovers than assists, with 3.5 miscues per game as the Ignite's primary ball-handler. Those were enough reason for him to fall on NBA draft boards across the league with subpar numbers against fringe NBA veterans and G League lifers.
But at this point in the 2022 NBA draft, it isn't a bad idea for the Mavs to roll the dice on a high risk, high reward prospect like Jaden Hardy. If he pans out for them, he'll be a perfect complement for Luka Doncic in the future.
Follow Us
Subscribe