Creating the Cavaliers’ perfect 2022 NBA Draft pick

Jaden Hardy’s arms (shooting)

Many of you that have been following the draft process, might be a bit surprised by this pick. Even still, let me explain myself.

Before the G-League season, Jaden Hardy was one of the top prospects in the class of 2021, but decided to take his talents to the G-League. After a rough season, he shot only 35% from the field and a putrid 27% from three. However, I would contend that a lot of that has to do with maturity and shot selection. Before he took the G-League route, he was the second-ranked prospect behind only Chet Holmgren. Scouts have often criticized his shot selection, but in the NBA that won’t be as big of a problem.

When it comes to his shot mechanics and overall form, he’s one of the best shooters I’ve ever seen. In high school he was easily knocking down three-pointers three to four feet behind the arc. But, the main reason I chose Hardy’s arms over the likes of A.J. Griffin or Ochai Agbaji, is because of his scorer mentality. On top of that, scoring is a premium in the NBA these days, and shooting might be the most important skill in the league.

The three-pointer has become a vital skill for the best players in the NBA. Right now Hardy’s bad shot selection is a bit of a red flag, but with time and work, the more shooting the better. For example, Bones Hyland, a rookie guard for the Denver Nuggets, attempted over five three-pointers a game this season. He hit them at a 36% clip, which isn’t overly impressive. Despite that, in today’s game taking five threes a game, and making two, is just good offense. There’s no reason that Jaden Hardy can’t do the same thing, and his quick, compact, efficient shooting stroke is made for the NBA.

While his shot selection is poor at times, his overall stroke is the best I’ve seen in a long time.