Could Jaden Hardy find a role with the Lakers?

Los Angeles Lakers acquired guard Jaden Hardy last month, along with two second-round draft picks, from the Washington Wizards. Hardy was traded for center Deandre Ayton, who was deemed expendable after the Lakers signed Walker Kessler. The general consensus is that Hardy will likely receive minimal playing time. However, in a recent article from Lake Show Life, Maxwell Odgen suggested that Hardy could potentially fill the role that Luke Kennard played for the Lakers last season.

Odgen believes Hardy could take on a similar role to Kennard's volume shooting from beyond the arc. Hardy is a reliable three-point shooter with a career average of 8.4 points in 14.9 minutes a game, and he shoots 38.6% from three-point range. He attempts eight 3-point shots per 36 minutes, significantly higher than the rest of his team's volume shooters. Although Hardy has some defensive flaws, his shooting is consistently efficient.

Hardy has played alongside Luka Doncic in Dallas, which should help in building chemistry for the Lakers. If the team decides to keep Hardy instead of cutting him, he could potentially fill the void left by Kennard and provide the necessary three-point shooting that the Lakers' offense lacks. However, Hardy has his question marks on the defensive end, and his shooting is the only consistent aspect of his game. If Cameron Carr struggles as a rookie or becomes a disappointment, Hardy could become an invaluable backup option.