Oklahoma City Thunder’s executive vice president and general manager Sam Presti candidly addressed the media regarding the midseason trade that brought veteran Gordon Hayward to the team. Despite the Thunder’s impressive season, Sam Presti labeled the trade as a “miss,” offering insights into his learnings from the experience.
A Promising Season Ends in Disappointment
The Thunder had a breakout season, securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. However, their journey ended in the second round, losing to the Dallas Mavericks in six games. Sam Presti, aiming to strengthen the young roster, traded for Hayward in February. Unfortunately, the trade did not yield the desired results.
Hayward’s Underwhelming Performance
Gordon Hayward, an accomplished veteran and former All-Star, struggled during his stint with the Thunder. In 26 regular-season games, he averaged just 5.3 points in 17.2 minutes per game. His postseason performance was even more disappointing, failing to score a single point. Reflecting on this, Sam Presti stated, “I missed on that. That’s on me. But I’m learning, I’m trying to learn this team, I’m trying to learn the pace of the team a little bit.”
The Trade Details
The Thunder acquired Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for guards Tre Mann and Vasilije Micic, forward Davis Bertans, and two future second-round picks. At the time of the trade, Hayward was averaging 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game. However, he had not played since late December due to a left calf injury.
Hayward’s Perspective
Gordon Hayward expressed his disappointment with his brief tenure in Oklahoma City. “I feel as a player, I have a lot to offer,” Hayward remarked. “Just wasn’t really given much of an opportunity to do that. I thought I would be given that opportunity.” As he approaches free agency this summer, Hayward’s frustration is palpable, highlighting the challenges he faced in adapting to his new team.
Sam Presti: Learning from the Experience
Sam Presti acknowledged the difficulties of integrating a new player midseason, especially one with Hayward’s injury history. “I don’t think I read that one perfect, and I’m learning from that in terms of bringing somebody midseason and especially early on in the process for our team,” he said. Despite the setback, Sam Presti emphasized his commitment to understanding and improving the team dynamics moving forward.
