Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
2025 Free Agents - Jaden Hardy
Hardy was a high profile high school prospect in 2021, and ended up spending his one post-high school season with the G-League Ignite. He didn't have a great season, struggling to score efficiently and posting a 48% true shooting. His stock fell, and he ended up falling to the 2nd round of the 2022 NBA draft. Hardy's game is built around scoring and shot creation. He has a really tight handle, and has the quickness to create space on jumpers or get to the rim. He has a lot of moves in his bag, and uses nice change of pace to keep defenders off balance. His G-League stats in '22-'23 were much better than his season with the Ignite, as he scored over 31 points per game on a ridiculous 78% true shooting. During his NBA games, he has posted a 54% true shooting, led by his 38% 3-point shooting. Hardy struggles to finish at the rim, as he isn't the most athletic and needs to develop craft and body control around the rim. He has shown some passing ability but I wouldn't say that's a strength of his yet. Defensively, Hardy has a long way to go to be even an average defender. He doesn't put much effort in on that end of the floor, and loses focus off the ball. He doesn't navigate screens well and can get beat off the dribble easily. He's undersized for a wing at 6'4", but at least has a long wingspan at 6'9". Overall, Hardy has a lot of traits to your classic score-first combo guard. He could have a successful career in the vein of someone like Jordan Clarkson, but that would take him hitting tough off-the-dribble jumpers enough that it's worth letting him take those shots over other opportunities for the offense. Regardless, Hardy looks like good value as a 2nd round pick, even getting some playoff minutes in 2024, although not all that consistently.
Summary
Hardy will be a restricted free agent with full Bird rights and a $2.7 million cap hold and Qualifying Offer. If Hardy plays 2,000 minutes or starts 41 games this season, he could raise his Qualifying Offer to $5.4 million. If a player has a smaller cap hold than his starting salary, his team can use cap space to sign-free agents before using Bird Rights to re-sign its own free agents. However, since the Mavericks will likely be operating over the cap, Hardy's cap hold is likely not relevant. Depending on how close the Mavericks are to the luxury tax after free agency, if Hardy is brought back by the Mavericks on a multi-year contract above the minimum, they could benefit from frontloading his contract, as it could give them additional flexibility in the future. If Hardy gets offers above the full $14.1 million MLE, only teams with cap space will be able to sign him to an offer sheet or outright if he's an unrestricted free agent. However, it's possible he could be had for the full MLE or less, in which case teams without cap space would be able to sign him.
Cap Considerations
Payton Pritchard (4 years, $30 million, 2023) Miles McBride (3 years, $13 million, 2024) Max Christie (4 years, $32 million, 2024)