Jan 22, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) points while handling the ball during the fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
The Oklahoma City Thunder’s future appears bright, despite their Saturday night playoff elimination from the NBA after a 117-116 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. In order to assemble one of the league’s top rosters, general manager Sam Presti has made many excellent decisions. However, one recent deal for Gordon Hayward was a mistake.
The Thunder made a major acquisition at the trade deadline when they acquired Hayward, a seasoned wing who was supposed to strengthen their rotation. Rather, Hayward never truly felt at home with the Thunder, and during their series against the Mavericks, he was unable to score a single point. Following their defeat in Game 6, supporters wasted no time on social media to criticize Presti for assuming that his trade for Hayward would be successful.
The Thunder trade for Hayward did make some sense conceptually. It made sense to add another seasoned wing who can play on both sides of the ball to Oklahoma City’s young squad. The issue was that Hayward never really fit in with the team, thus it was difficult to defend the decision.
Upon perusing OKC’s roster, it became evident that the team required further assistance at the center position, as opposed to adding another wing to an already congested bench. As it turned out, the Thunder’s inside presence on both ends of the court struggled during the postseason, demonstrating that Presti and company had not only made a poor decision in trading for Hayward but also had overlooked an apparent weakness on their squad.
As Hayward is eligible for free agency, it’s highly likely that he won’t be joining Oklahoma City again following his terrible time there. Although Hayward is still useful as a reserve wing, the Thunder don’t need him, as their postseason success has shown.
They must strengthen their center position and look for a replacement who can step in and, unlike Hayward, genuinely establish the team’s starting lineup.
The Thunder have enough of resources at their disposal to bolster their squad, which is excellent news. However, Presti has to start reaping the rewards of his labors and make some major moves after a few years of methodically building his club. Although Hayward’s career didn’t work out, the Thunder have a bright future and a strong chance to win a championship the next season if he makes the appropriate trades.
