Trade & FA 2023-24: Stein-Ingram Trade Inevitable| LAL Want Lebron Back On Any Terms

[F Gump]

I share a lot of those thoughts, especially about the 2024 draft, but Hardy an F? That is crazy.

First of all he was the 37th pick. That he will play 7-8 years in the NBA, which imho is a lock at this stage, already makes it a successful pick. An F would have to get released in the first two years of his rookie deal.  

Also Hardy and Omax are virtually the same age. Why is Omax not an F, cause his NBA development is clearly behind Hardy.

If you double his minutes, his production basically mirrors THJs. Better passer, better rebounder, better shooter. He has not progressed from his rookie season, but sometimes there are ebbs and flows. I would not be surprised at all, if the Mavs have internally marked up Hardy as THJ´s replacement for next season.

Your criticisms are fair in a lot of ways. But I still think my notes are rational.

I almost graded OMax as an I (incomplete) because I don't think he has had enough time to develop or show anything. But if he's still the same player in another year, he gets an F. The fact that Hardy is the same player as a year ago - or WORSE - is why I give him an F.

Your comparison of THJ and Hardy as the same type of player? I agree with that. But Hardy's definitely not as good as THJ, sadly. And when THJ is someone we'd want to replace because he's not good enough, then having a worse version of that is not the answer at all. 

Looking at per-26 numbers, Hardy is a WORSE shooter according to TS%, twice as many turnovers, fouls more, and much worse on defense. Rebounding is a wash. The only thing he does better is assists. And overall he's getting worse, not better. 

The eye test shows me a player who still doesn't get it at all. He plays out of control, and is focused almost solely on getting up shots, at just about any cost. 

I think he has to make a HUGE leap next year, to get another contract here at that point. I know fans want him to be a feel-good story of the great player the Mavs found, but the sad truth is that so far he's just a spare. At some point the Mavs will just pull the plug and look elsewhere, if he keeps going nowhere.