The Oklahoma City Thunder not only looks to be a playoff team -- as they've got a 45-20 record through 65 games -- but they project to be a lock for a top-four seed in the Western Conference, barring any disastrous late-season collapse.
While the Thunder doesn't have much postseason experience on their roster, key additions at the trade deadline might just help in that department. While players like Bismack Biyombo and Mike Muscala were signed for big-man depth, they might not play a ton in a playoff series. Gordon Hayward, though, who the Thunder traded for from the Charlotte Hornets, has the potential to be a key contributor come playoff time.
Still, adding a player midseason and having them ready immediately is no easy task. He's spent all season with another team, went through training camp in Charlotte and is even coming off an injury. How is Hayward dealing with acclimating himself and getting comfortable with the Thunder?
"Honestly, I deal with all internal expectations more than anything, so I wouldn't know what anyone has been saying about how I've been doing or how I've been performing. I know how I feel and still trying to get acclimated to the team and still trying to get my legs under me and get healthy," Hayward explained to the media on Wednesday.
Hayward has plenty of playoff experience, so that alone will be valuable. His on-court fit is incredible, though. He can stretch the floor, assist in playmaking and provide an all-around impact the Thunder thrives with. While it might take some time, the 33-year-old could be playing some really impactful basketball in the playoffs.
"Coach Mark [Daigneault] said it best, he wants me to be playing my best ball in April," Hayward continued. "I'm trying to keep building when I go out there on the court. It's certainly a different role, too. Something that I'm used to, just trying to do the best with what I'm given."
Hayward has fallen into more of a bench role, but his minutes and role could certainly increase in the postseason. If the offense is stagnant with Josh Giddey on the floor, as teams have been guarding him from the paint and not paying attention to him on the perimeter, Hayward's floor spacing could be vital.
Getting the 6-foot-7 forward comfortable could be crucial to Oklahoma City's ceiling in April, as their first substantial bit of postseason play since 2020 will be defining for the team's postseason expectations moving forward.
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