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If there’s one thing that makes the Miami Heat stand out among the rest of the NBA teams, it’s their ability to provide second opportunities to NBA players.
While the Heat usually focus on finding undrafted players and honing them into skilled players, they do not shy away from providing chances to previously proven players in the league as well.
A perfect example of it was adding former Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love during the 2022-23 NBA season.
This season, the Heat are apparently eyeing to acquire Gordon Hayward through a trade, as revealed by Sean Deveney via Dru on Twitter.
“Gordon Hayward is a different player now, obviously, but one thing about Pat Riley, he does fixate, he has guys who once he likes them, he kind of keeps trying to bring them in, even later in their careers,” Deveney said, quoting a league executive.
“Gordon Hayward is a different player now, obviously, but one thing about Pat Riley, he does fixate, he has guys who once he likes them, he kind of keeps trying to bring them in, even later in their careers. And Hayward does a lot that would fit for [the Heat]” one Eastern exec… pic.twitter.com/sprddbZFVG
— Dru (@dru_star) December 19, 2023
Deveney pointed out that this anonymous Eastern Conference executive believes that the transformation of Hayward during the late stages of his career makes him the perfect player for the Heat.
On top of that, the unnamed executive believes if Pat Riley wants a player at any point in their career, he goes above and beyond to acquire them.
The executive also gave examples of how Goran Dragic and Josh Richardson signed with the Heat during the latter stages of their careers.
As for Hayward, he is averaging 15.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game for the Charlotte Hornets this season.
The 33-year-old forward can also become a veteran voice in the locker room for the Heat.
Considering the Heat are currently 15-12 this season, trading for Hayward could be the missing piece of the puzzle that the organization has been searching for right now.
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