Cavs NBA Draft Notebook: Jaden Hardy Scouting Report

With the NBA postseason ramping up in the coming weeks, it’s time for those teams who didn’t make the playoffs to start looking towards the draft. The 2021 NBA Draft class was incredible, with the Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes taking home the Rookie of the Year award. However, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ own Evan Mobley had a historic season as well, with Rajon Rondo claiming he’s the best rookie he’s ever seen.

It wasn’t just a Mobley and Barnes show this season, as the Detroit Pistons’ Cade Cunningham battled through multiple injuries to have a solid season. Many think he has the brightest future of any of the rookies. With that being said, it’s time to take a look at the 2022 NBA Draft class.

Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith, and Paolo Banchero are widely expected to be the first three picks, in some type of order. But, with the Cavs first-round draft pick likely falling in the late lottery, those guys will almost certainly be off the board. At the end of the 2021 high school basketball season, ESPN’s top-rated player was Holmgren. Banchero was the fifth-rated prospect, and Smith was the sixth. However, the second-best player in that class, Jaden Hardy, decided to take the G-League route instead of taking his game to college hoops. He had an up-and-down season, and considering where he was at the end of last year, many will view his G-League season as a misstep.

The good news for the Cavaliers is that he will likely be on the board when the Cavs make their selection. Hardy is a lights out shooter with a lot of athleticism. In fairness, he does need to work on his finishing at the rim, and his shot selection, but that will come with time.

So without further ado, let’s take a closer look at Jaden Hardy.