Gordon Hayward has had a rough go of it the last few months, but there may be light at the end of the tunnel. As the 13-year veteran prepares to reach free agency, at least one team looks willing to offer him a more fulfilling role than he had with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Better still, it’s another contender, as “there are people within the (Denver) Nuggets who are fans of Hayward” (per Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports).
Gordon Hayward Has Fans In Nuggets Front Office
Hayward’s no longer an All-Star-level player due to the injuries that sapped him of his upper-end athleticism. Nonetheless, he’s a highly skilled and versatile forward who’s averaged 15.4 points per game over the past five seasons. Indeed, if signed, he could play the sixth man role that’s been held by Reggie Jackson since his arrival.
The Colorado Shuffle
Jackson has a $5.3 million player option on his contract for next season and could decline it in pursuit of a long-term deal. The Colorado native has clearly enjoyed his time in Denver. Nonetheless, professional athletes value job security as much as the average person. So, while he could be back with the Nuggets, it’s not guaranteed.
If Jackson does return, Denver may also consider starting him. In 2023-24, he averaged 15.4 points and 5.3 assists per game on .493-.443-.787 shooting splits in 23 starts. That said, the Nuggets also face the possibility of losing sharpshooter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency. Caldwell-Pope has a $15.4 million player option on his contract for the 2024-25 season, a sizable figure. However, he could be a top target in what’s a relatively weak free agent class.
If Caldwell-Pope does leave, transfixed by an offer from the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, or Oklahoma City Thunder, moving Jamal Murray to shooting guard could be worth exploring.
The Nuggets may see a chance for Christian Braun’s succession at the two. Nonetheless, there’s more skill in a Jackson-Murray backcourt. The same holds true if Peyton Watson was the replacement for Caldwell-Pope instead of Braun. Furthermore, Murray’s also a solid defender, perhaps even underrated. Strong, active, and willing to guard the opponent’s best wing, he can hold his own at that end.
Diversifying Their Attack
One of the Nuggets’ biggest weaknesses has been right under their nose for a while. Last season, Denver ranked 14th in points per game (114.9). In 2022-23, they ranked 12th in points per game (115.8). In fact, the Nuggets’ offense has had a scoring average that ranked outside the top-10 in three of the last five seasons.
With a starting lineup of Jackson, Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets will not only have more firepower, but they’ll be a bit more dynamic than years past. Their offense isn’t quite heliocentric, but it’s been pretty predictable. Denver’s been spamming the Murray-Jokic pick-and-roll so much that even Porter has had to speak up about the shot distribution.
In essence, the Nuggets would be taking a page out of the Boston Celtics’ book. The Celtics were resigned to Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown taking turns calling for isos. That is, until they traded for Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. They also empowered Derrick White as a scorer. As a result, they were the hardest team to beat in 2023-24, leading the NBA with a 64-18 record.
Hayward would be equivalent to their Al Horford. While not an elder statesman, his feel, experience and basketball IQ will be invaluable. Coming into the game for Porter or Gordon, his shooting stroke and playmaking will either enhance the offense or keep them from missing a beat.
