Gordon Hayward was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder last season after spending four years with the Charlotte Hornets.
Originally, many thought Hayward would fit nicely along with OKC’s young core and provide them with stable shooting and a legitimate veteran presence.
Unfortunately, the fit wasn’t quite right on either side and Hayward didn’t get a ton of playing time with the Thunder.
As an unrestricted free agent this summer, Hayward will get to pick his next destination. Two teams thus far have emerged as the frontrunners for his services.
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The first is the Denver Nuggets. According to team insider Harrison Wind, he is a very viable option for last year’s NBA champions.
“Hayward’s no longer an All-Star-level player due to the injuries that sapped him of his upper-end athleticism,” Wind wrote.
“Nonetheless, he’s a highly skilled and versatile forward who’s averaged 15.4 points per game over the past five seasons. Indeed, if signed, he could play the sixth man role that’s been held by Reggie Jackson since his arrival.”
The other potential landing spot for Hayward is L.A. He has long been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers. A lot of the reason he originally made sense for OKC last year applies to Anthony Davis and Co.
Where will Hayward ultimately be playing when the 2023-24 NBA season tips off? Time will tell.
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A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
