Following their elimination by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Denver Nuggets are reportedly interested in signing Gordon Hayward to enhance their bench. Insider Harrison Wind reveals that some within the Nuggets organization are eager to bring Hayward on board.
“I know there are people within the Nuggets who are fans of Hayward,” Wind noted.
However, this potential acquisition may not thrill all Nuggets fans, given Hayward’s recent decline in performance. After being traded mid-season to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Hayward struggled to make an impact. The Thunder had acquired him from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Davis Bertans, Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic, two future second-round picks, and cash considerations. Hayward was expected to add scoring, playmaking, and veteran leadership but fell short of expectations.
During his time with the Thunder, Hayward averaged just 5.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.5 steals per game. His playing time decreased even further in the playoffs, dropping from 17.2 minutes per game in the regular season to just 6.6 minutes per game. He was eventually benched for the final three games of the Thunder’s second-round series against the Dallas Mavericks, logging only 46 minutes in the playoffs without scoring.
Despite these struggles, Hayward’s earlier performance with the Hornets indicates he still has potential. Before the trade, he averaged 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in the 2023-24 season.
The Nuggets might believe that in the right situation, Hayward could still provide valuable minutes off the bench. Even if the move doesn’t work out, signing him to a veteran minimum contract would minimize the risk for the team.
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