The Oklahoma City Thunder made an interesting trade just prior to the trade deadline that landed them veteran sharpshooter Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets.
Hayward should not only supply them with reliable 3-point shooting but also some secondary playmaking and length at the wing position.
He had a message to the fans of his new team that he’s ready to get to work, per the team’s official Twitter account.
Ready to get to work, @gordonhayward 🗣️#ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/2EOlRNCwR2
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 21, 2024
Hayward is in his 14th season out of Butler University, and he has survived some great adversity over the years.
On opening night of the 2017-18 season, he suffered a horrific fractured tibia and dislocated ankle that cost him almost the entire season.
He needed two surgeries in order to recover, and he has been at least somewhat injury-prone in the years following the incident.
But his frequent injuries haven’t really dampened his shooting touch.
Hayward has made 36.1 percent of his 3-point attempts so far this season, and playing in Oklahoma City alongside emerging superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should give him more good looks from downtown than he had with the struggling Hornets.
He also has a career average of 3.6 assists a game and has dished off 4.6 dimes a contest so far this season, and that skill should create more good looks for his teammates.
The Thunder are currently in second place in the Western Conference, but some don’t fully believe in them as a true championship contender, so perhaps Hayward could be one of the final pieces to the puzzle they need.
NEXT: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Makes Strong Statement About Steve Nash