How Gordon Hayward Impacts Oklahoma City’s Closing Lineups

The Thunder made a splash trade on Thursday, and he should be instant help in many ways.

As the deadline got closer and closer, it didn’t feel like the Thunder would make a splash. The team is tied for first place in the Western Conference and has a specific style of basketball that doesn’t fit seamlessly for just everyone. On Thursday, though, Sam Presti made a move and found a perfect fit.

Gordon Hayward isn’t the All-Star he once was, but he’s still a solid player that fixes plenty of holes the Thunder had. He also provides shooting reinforcement in playoff experience for a young group on the brink of its first real postseason appearance.

The 33-year-old veteran still has plenty left in the tank and won’t have to play heavy minutes in Oklahoma City — although he’s more than capable. Hayward recorded 32 minutes a game in Charlotte and averaged 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists. He shot 46.8% from the floor and 36.1% from 3-point range. Over the course of his career, he’s a 36.9% long-range shooter averaging 15.5 points per game.

As for his fit in Oklahoma City, the transition should be smooth. He shouldn’t have to play 30 minutes a night and doesn’t have to be penciled into the starting lineup, although it’s a possibility. The real luxury Hayward adds is in the Thunder’s closing lineups.

Despite starting every game for the Thunder, Josh Giddey has been regularly removed from closing time lineups. Late in the fourth quarter, Mark Daigneault usually turns elsewhere for crunch time minutes. Oklahoma City has tried inserting him back in, but it hasn't quite worked yet.

Having Giddey and Lu Dort on the floor together during closing minutes has been disastrous for the Thunder in a handful of games. Defenders sag way off to clog the paint and double or triple team Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. With Hayward and Jalen Williams on the wings, though, opposing teams will have to respect the outside shot. Dort's defense likely keeps him in the end-of-game lineups, but now the Thunder has another scoring option to close games.

"The Thunder just got a player in Gordon Hayward that can close games for them," Zach Lowe said on Thursday's trade deadline show. "Gordon Hayward can play the three, the four, he can shoot, he can work off the dribble, he fills every need the Thunder had. Yes, his health is a big question, but I'm told he'll be ready to play very soon, if not immediately for Oklahoma City. 

"The Thunder did it, they went out and made a win now move, the team has earned this respect from the Thunder front office, they have earned a chance to really go for it. The top of the West has a contender that fortified itself."

A closing lineup of Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort, Hayward, Williams and Chet Holmgren fits like glue on paper, and giving SGA another dynamic scorer on the floor should be a game-changer. In addition to closing lineups, if Gilgeous-Alexander and Williams have staggered minutes, giving Williams another playmaker in Hayward is big for the young wing. He's capable of running an offense by himself, as we've seen, but Hayward should certainly take some of the pressure off.

Securing the veteran wing was a massive deal for the Thunder, even if he's a player who comes off the bench. It gives Daigneault another option in the fourth quarter, and that's what matters most.

---

Want to join the discussion? Like Inside the Thunder on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Thunder news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.