People Within Nuggets Reportedly Fans Of Gordon Hayward

According to NBA reporter Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports, people within the Denver Nuggets are fans of Gordon Hayward. 

Hayward becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He played for the Charlotte Hornets and Oklahoma City Thunder this season.

The 34-year-old averaged 9.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 51 games while shooting 46.4% from the field, 41.1% from beyond the arc and 74.2% from the free-throw line. 

The Thunder are not expected to re-sign Hayward. 

“Hayward landed in Oklahoma City at the trade deadline and was supposed to steady the Thunder’s bench rotation but didn’t find much success,” Wind wrote. “He averaged 17 minutes in 26 games at the end of the regular season but then fell out of the rotation during a second-round loss to the Clippers and failed to score a single point in 46 total playoff minutes (0-3 shooting). But I think there’s still good basketball here. He posted solid numbers in Charlotte to start the year — 14.5 points per game on shooting efficiency that was in line with his career averages. I know there are people within the Nuggets who are fans of Hayward.”

The Thunder lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of this year’s playoffs in six games, while the Nuggets fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round in seven games. 

A one-time All-Star, Hayward has career NBA averages of 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists with the Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, Hornets and Thunder. 

The Nuggets won the 2023 championship over the Miami Heat in five games. Their core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. is one of the most talented “Big 4s” in the NBA. 

While there have been rumors about the Nuggets possibly trading Porter Jr., Wind reported in May that Porter Jr. will not be traded. Porter Jr. will make $35.9 million next season.