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Not so long ago, Gordon Hayward was one of the most sought-after small forwards in the league.
He had already outgrown the Utah Jazz and had become a serviceable three-level scorer who could also hold his own on defense from time to time, create for others, and had a feel for knocking down big shots.
Nonetheless, he just hasn’t been able to be the same player since that very first game with the Boston Celtics, in which he suffered one of the most gruesome injuries in NBA history.
Hayward has been on and off the court with countless injuries ever since that day, and his steep salary hasn’t done him any favors in terms of playing for a contender.
But now that he’s finally in the final year of his contract, several teams could emerge as potential destinations for him.
According to BetCarolina (via Dru), the Miami Heat have emerged as the frontrunner to acquire his services, with the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Cleveland Cavaliers as the other potential landing spots.
Gordon Hayward Potential Trade Destinations; Odds of Next Team via @BetNCdotcom
Heat +450
Warriors +500
Lakers +700
Mavericks +700
76ers +1000
Cavaliers +1000
Other / Stay With Hornets +400
“According to our projections, Hayward’s No. 1 possible destination is South Beach, with… pic.twitter.com/Ae5PVQsHbE
— Dru (@dru_star) December 21, 2023
Needless to say, Hayward is no longer the perennial 20+ points-per-game scorer he used to be during his heyday, but he’s still an intelligent and savvy veteran who could make a positive impact in the right setting.
Injuries have hurt the Heat, so trading for an injury-prone player might not be wise.
Then again, he could help solve some of their spacing issues, and the veteran star could still have something left in the tank for the playoffs.
The post Odds Show The Heat As Favorites To Land Notable Veteran appeared first on The Cold Wire.