Gordon Hayward is not happy with how his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder went, and general manager Sam Presti is right there with him.
Presti, speaking at his final press conference of the season on Tuesday following the team’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the playoffs, said he “lost” the deal that brought Hayward in earlier this season.
“I missed that. That’s on me,” said Presti, via ESPN. “But I’m learning, I’m trying to learn this team, I’m trying to learn the rhythm of the team a little. And try to be a great observer of the team as it moves forward, knowing that it will actually change on its own.”
That’s a pretty damning admission from a general manager, but it’s hard to argue with.
The Thunder acquired Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Tre Man, Vasilije Micic, Davis Bertans and two future draft picks in February. Hayward, however, appeared in just 26 games for the Thunder, mostly off the bench. He averaged just 5.3 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in just over 17 minutes per game with the team.
He averaged just five minutes per game in the semifinal series against the Mavericks, and less than eight minutes per game in the first-round win over the New Orleans Pelicans. The Thunder, for all their success as a team, never found a good fit for Hayward.
After the season-ending loss, Hayward didn’t hold back. His time with the team, he said, was “disappointing” and “frustrating.”
“I feel like as a player I have a lot to offer,” Hayward said, via ESPN. “I just haven’t had much opportunity to do that. I thought I would have this opportunity.”
Hayward’s wife, Robyn, clearly wasn’t happy either.
Hayward is set to become a free agent this summer. Based on how last season went, he will almost certainly play elsewhere next fall. Despite this issue, Presti still led the Thunder to first place in the Western Conference and out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
“I guess I didn’t read it perfectly and I’m learning from it in terms of bringing someone mid-season and especially early in the process onto our team,” Presti said.
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