Social Media Reacts to OKC Thunder Trade Deadline Moves
On Thursday, the Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets in a trade that sent Vasilije Micic, Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, and a couple of second-round picks to Buzz City in exchange for the veteran forward.
This move improved the OKC Thunder roster, which deserved the upgrade, given their performance through 50 games, for relatively no cost. Mann has a chance to pop in Charlotte that he was never going to get in Oklahoma City, Micic is slowly adjusting to the NBA but ultimately, like Bertans, does not project to be playable for sustained stretches in the postseason.
Hayward is an NBA veteran with nine years of experience, including 29 playoff games and time spent alongside countless future Hall of Famers. While his experience is vital for the second-youngest roster in the NBA, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault set the record straight on Tuesday, highlighting this trade was to improve the team on the court, not add a motivational speaker.
The 33-year-old will provide a massive scoring punch off the bench and really help bridge the game back to the starters or even close out games for the OKC Thunder. The lineup versatility Daigneault now possesses will improve their playoff case. This trade had social media buzzing.
Hayward will not make his OKC Thunder debut until after the All-Star Break, as Mark Daigneault announced Friday at practice, but his debut is much anticipated around Bricktown.
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