The Dallas Mavericks have signed guard Jaden Hardy to a three-year, $18 million contract extension, as reported by multiple sources including Shams Charania of ESPN. This move reflects the team's confidence in Hardy, a player who joined the Mavericks after being traded to them during the 2022 NBA Draft. Hardy bypassed college to join the G League Ignite and has averaged 7.9 points per game over his first two NBA seasons, showing potential during the preseason. His extension comes as the Mavericks deal with depth issues, highlighted by the injury to Dante Exum. Despite limited playing time due to star players like Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson, the Mavericks see value in securing his role off the bench. The decision to extend Hardy's contract ahead of the deadline for first-round picks indicates Dallas's strategic planning for future roster stability.