Miami Heat: Assessing The ‘Whispers’ Surrounding Gordon Hayward
By Joe Hulbert
It was reported that Gordon Hayward could join the Miami Heat this summer. This would be an excellent — and realistic — signing for the Heat.
On Wednesday evening, it was reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News that there are whispers around the league linking Gordon Hayward with a move to the Miami Heat. Isola suggested that Hayward may be interested in a move to Miami due to the excellent weather and lack of a state income tax, which isn’t that surprising.
The Miami Heat are a team that has consistently tried to attract big free agents in the Pat Riley era, from Shaquille O’Neal to LeBron James to Kevin Durant. The factors listed above help, but the truth is that people go to Miami because they have a great structure in place, and because of their respect for Pat Riley.
The Heat have a relatively good roster in place, but the fact they opted against tanking means they will have to add someone in free agency this summer, as it is unlikely that they will get an elite prospect with a pick in the low teens or the early twenties.
Per Keith Smith of 16 Wins a Ring, the Miami Heat will likely have the second-most cap room this summer, behind the Philadelphia 76ers. Philadelphia is unlikely to be an attractive option for free agents entering their prime, so the Miami Heat are probably the favorites to land a player like Gordon Hayward, due to multiple factors.
One of the reasons the Heat have a great chance of landing Hayward is because he is a player that values winning above all else. In an interview with Zach Lowe, Hayward was quoted as saying that his future decisions would come down to how likely he was to “make a run” at a title.
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With respect to the Utah Jazz, it is hard to see them being a true contender in a stacked Western Conference within the next couple of years. Rudy Gobert is a genuine star and they’re a well-coached unit, but they aren’t a team with an owner that is prepared to go above and beyond like Micky Arison is.
Hayward has a good case of being the most underrated player in the league, as he scores efficiently in a variety of ways, and unlike a lot of pure scorers, his defense isn’t a liability. Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry are the best prospective free agents, but those signings are wholly unrealistic. This means that Gordon Hayward will likely be at the very top of Pat Riley’s list, alongside names like Blake Griffin and Paul Millsap.
As of now, Miami’s starting wings are Rodney McGruder and Luke Babbitt, and with respect to these players, they are very limited. Babbitt is a good spot-up shooter who has improved as a defender, but Gordon Hayward is so versatile that he could bring a whole different dimension to Erik Spoelstra’s playbook.
Hayward’s versatility is best shown in the fact that he ranks in the 87th percentile as a spot-up shooter, the 92nd percentile in transition, and the 80th percentile as a pick and roll ball handler. To put this into perspective, the only other player ranking in the same percentiles or higher on these particular play types is Kevin Durant. This shows that Hayward contributes in transition and in the half court, and he would add a different dimension to this Heat offense.
Some Heat fans might think this signing is uninspiring as he isn’t a marquee type player, but he plays like one, despite being grossly undervalued by a lot of people. In terms of win shares per 48, he ranks 17th in the NBA, which shows that he is someone who should be in the same category as some of the best players in the League. Other metrics are also kind to Hayward, as he ranks 20th in Box Plus Minus, and 23rd in VORP.
Gordon Hayward doesn’t get the media love, but this shouldn’t cause Heat fans to think he wouldn’t make the team a serious contender in the East. Erik Spoelstra has gotten a positive record with an undrafted free agent and a three-point shooting cast as his starting wings, so he could do an awful lot with a player as talented as Gordon Hayward.
I am not trying to suggest that Gordon Hayward is the best case scenario for the Miami Heat, as Blake Griffin is a better player, but Heat fans should be very excited by the prospect of Hayward coming to South Beach, as he will help them contend in what is becoming a very top-heavy conference.
One of the major reasons Hayward would be a great signing is that he can co-exist with Goran Dragic and turn the Heat into an offensive juggernaut. Hayward doesn’t need the ball in his hands, and this is probably something that Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley will want to take into account when they are building their roster.
Dragic is at his best when he is paired with someone who can drive into the paint and create off the dribble, and while he currently has that in Dion Waiters, Hayward would be a much more impactful teammate.
Next: 10 Matchups We Want To See In The 2017 NBA Playoffs
Every summer in Miami is eventful, but the early rumours surrounding Gordon Hayward suggests that it could a very fun summer for the Heat faithful.