As the Dallas Mavericks evaluate their backcourt depth ahead of the 2025–26 NBA season, guard Jaden Hardy is gaining buzz as a potential trade candidate.
Hardy, 23, was listed by Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley as one of five under-25 NBA players who could benefit from a change of scenery. While he’s shown flashes of offensive potential early in his career, Hardy’s role in Dallas appears increasingly uncertain following offseason roster additions and ongoing competition for minutes.
Jaden Hardy Faces Stiff Competition
In 57 games last season, Hardy averaged 8.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 15.9 minutes per game. He enters the first year of a three-year, $18 million contract, set to earn more than newly signed veteran guard D’Angelo Russell, who joined the Mavericks on the taxpayer mid-level exception to provide lead guard play as Kyrie Irving recovers from ACL surgery.
Additionally, Dallas has agreed to re-sign Danté Exum to a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum, sources told DallasHoopsJournal.com, as the team values his continued role, further crowding the guard depth chart.
Hardy faces stiff competition for minutes from Russell and Exum and a perimeter group that includes Naji Marshall, Max Christie, and potentially Caleb Martin, who is expected to return to full health after an injury-riddled campaign.
Dallas Mavericks Face Roster Crunch, Will Jaden Hardy Last?
Given the Mavericks’ need to trim their roster from 16 standard NBA contracts to the league-maximum 15 before opening night, Hardy’s $6.0 million salary presents a complicating factor in trade scenarios. Another player to monitor is Olivier-Maxence Prosper, whose $3.0 million contract may be easier to move if the Mavericks opt for flexibility over further investment in player development.
While Hardy remains under contract through the 2027–28 season, the deal includes a team option for the final year, making him a lower-risk acquisition for any team looking to evaluate his long-term fit.
Originally selected 37th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Hardy has played 139 career games over three seasons. He owns a career three-point percentage of 38.1% and has been praised for his scoring instincts, though inconsistency and a lack of playmaking polish have limited his impact in a crowded backcourt.
No trade discussions involving Hardy have surfaced as of yet, but his situation remains worth watching with the Mavericks’ roster decisions looming.
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