Kings draft Hardy at No. 37, reportedly send him to Mavericks
The Sacramento Kings selected G League Ignite guard Jaden Hardy with the No. 37 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and will reportedly trade him to the Dallas Mavericks.
The Kings will get a second-round pick from the Mavs in 2024 and 2028 for the rights to Hardy, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.
Hardy entered last season as an intriguing prospect, but his draft stock fell after an up-and-down year. He scored 17.6 points per game but connected on just 35.1% of his field goals and shot 26.9% from distance. Turnovers also plagued Hardy - he averaged 3.5 per game.
Despite some efficiency concerns, the 19-year-old has the makings of a player who can score at all three levels once he reaches the NBA, be it by attacking the paint or creating space for himself on the perimeter.
"Playing in the NBA G League is going to give me a foot up, just because I've played against the pro competition," Hardy said earlier in June. "Just me already being a pro, playing with the shot clock, already knowing the spacing, and already knowing the terminology."
Bio
Position: G
Team: G League Ignite
College experience: N/A
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 200 lbs
Wingspan: 6-foot-10
Max vertical: N/A
Strengths
- Utilizes athleticism well on drives
- Ability to finish around the rim through contact
- Strong free-throw shooting (88% last season) indicates he may become a more reliable outside threat
- Capable of effectively intercepting passing lanes (1.3 steals per game)
Weaknesses
- Sometimes takes unnecessary gambles when trying to create turnovers, which puts him out of position
- Poor assist-to-turnover ratio (3.1-to-3.5)
- Attempts a lot of contested, ill-advised shots