2022 NBA Draft Profile: Jaden Hardy
Could Jaden Hardy be the perfect running-mate for Trae Young?
Welcome to The Hawks Collective newsletter! Atlanta had a disappointing yet promising season led by the continued stardom of Trae Young, Onyeka Okongwu’s development as the center of the future, and plenty more. The NBA draft takes place on June 23, so we’ll be profiling several players who the Hawks may consider selecting with its No. 16 and No. 44 picks. Today’s subject: Jaden Hardy of the G-League.
Measurements
Height: 6-4
Weight: 190 lbs
Wingspan: 6-10
Draft Age: 19.9 y/o
Statistical Profile
The Basics: 32.2 minutes, 17.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists
Efficiency: 40.2% on twos, 26.9% on threes, 88.2% on free throws
Advanced: 30.0% usage, 15.6% assist rate, 2.0% steal rate, 1.0% block rate, 16.0 turnover rate
Misc: 76th percentile on C&S jumpers, 56th percentile on spot-ups, 44th percentile as a PnR ball-handler, 51st percentile in isolation.
The Intrigue
Hardy’s shooting has been his calling card his whole life; whether it’s in isolation or catch & shoot, he’s shown the ability to get his shot off whenever he needs.
Hardy does a nice job of passing his teammates open; he’s unlikely to be not a lead creator for a team, but his ability to keep the ball moving will do dividends for the rest of the team.
He’s an effective shooter off the catch and will consistently draw closeouts as a floor spacer. If needed, Hardy can create his own shot for a second unit (see Cam Thomas of the Brooklyn Nets).
Areas of Improvement
A below-average athlete for NBA standards who relies mostly on his smoothness and feel to generate buckets. It’s not uncommon for a non-Jalen Green level athlete to succeed as a finisher, but it just makes the rough patches tougher to overcome.
His defense wasn’t anything to write home about in the G League; he doesn’t need to defend at the point of attack, but will at least need to be effective as a communicator & team defender — an area where Hardy struggles to stay focused throughout a game.
Furthermore on the defense, Hardy is strictly a two-guard defender, mainly due to his size and lack of quickness against lead guards.
Team Fit
Should the Hawks draft him at 16? Yes
Like I said in the Ochai Agbaji report, the Hawks desperately need someone who can get his own buckets without being spoonfed by Young. If the Hawks don’t plan on going after a Zach LaVine or Donovan Mitchell type this offseason then a prospect like Hardy should be high on their draft board. Despite his subpar shooting splits for Ignite, Hardy has years of film of him creating something out of nothing and getting his shot off whenever he wants whether it's in pick-and-roll or in isolation. He isn’t the defender you’d ideally want next to Trae, so the Hawks will need to bank on Hunter and whoever is starting the frontcourt to be top-level defenders. Let’s use this year’s playoffs as an example, every team needs versatile shot-creators who play on and off-the-ball — examples include Jordan Poole, Desmond Bane, and Tyrese Maxey. Hardy is arguably the best in the class at doing it while also being just 19-years-old.