Gordon Hayward is set to make his Thunder debut on Thursday night, and he has plenty to bring to the table. Although Hayward isn't the All-Star he once was, he might be the perfect fit for this team.
Oklahoma City isn't looking for a savior or someone to take shots away from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Jalen Williams. SGA is a lead MVP candidate and needs the ball in his hands often for the Thunder to succeed. The shot distribution has found a rhythm, and Gilgeous-Alexander has done a great job of letting Williams take over when it's time.
All the Thunder needed at the trade deadline was experience, lineup versatility, and another wing shooter in closing lineups. Hayward won't try to star in Oklahoma City, and he doesn't have to. He just needs to fit in and be a mentor along the way.
"There's nothing like experiences in the NBA, those are hard to teach and you kind of just have to go through them. I've gone through quite a few. I think just being able to be in those moments and hopefully be a calming presence and somebody that can be posed on the court, or when I'm not playing, helping the guys if they have any questions. Being in those moments, there's things that arise that I can help with."
Hayward has been effective when healthy for a struggling Hornets this season and a change of scenery will likely serve him well. He's averaging 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists on 46.8% shooting and 36.1% from 3-point range.
He'll be a useful voice in the locker room, too. Hayward has more playoff experience than nearly every player on the Thunder's roster combined and has been counted on in high-stakes situations.
"Watching these guys from afar, it's been really impressive to see. Where they were at and where they're at now, they're really good already. They certainly have a bright future, I'm excited to get here and see if I can help right now."
Oklahoma City is currently second in the Western Conference with a good chance to make a post-All-Star break run. It's unclear how much Hayward's addition raises the team's overall ceiling, but it's easy to bet his presence will be a net positive.
More must-reads: