Dime NBA Draft Profile: Gordon Hayward
Butler's Gordon Hayward
With the season almost over, NBA GMs have their minds set on the NBA Playoffs. But for those teams that will be counting ping pong balls instead of playoff victories, the upcoming NBA Draft has many intriguing prospects that need to be recognized. So with March Madness over, Dime contributor Lucas Shapiro continues profiling players and giving them a team that would best fit their talent. Last week was Kansas’ Xavier Henry, so now we’re on to Butler’s Gordon Hayward.
Player Comparisons: Matt Harpring, Luke Walton and Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Athleticism
Gordon Hayward is a white forward standing at 6-9, can shoot and plays college basketball in Indiana. Obviously, the ridiculous Larry Bird comparisons will be overused because of that. Hopefully, it is not overused to the point that the comparisons were given to Adam Morrison back in 2004. However, from an athleticism standpoint, Hayward is fairly similar to Bird. He lacks the lateral quickness and explosiveness of an elite athlete but has a quick first step. This can be attributed to Hayward’s ten-inch growth spurt back in high school. A couple years ago, Hayward was 5-11 and he managed to retain his guard characteristics from this magical transformation. He also managed to keep the same frame as a guard, which is not a good thing. Hayward should look to add 10-15 pounds of muscle for more upper body strength. He may not be a world-class athlete, but Hayward has the tools to get by in the NBA.
Grade: B-
Fundamentals
Any NBA team likes a tall small forward who can shoot. Why do you think Tim Thomas is still in the League? They also love guys who are mismatches at all times, and Hayward is that type of player. He can be a triple threat due to his great shooting form, sneaky court vision and underrated ball-handling. Another underrated aspect of Hayward’s game is his ability to drive to the basket, which is an important skill for shooters. Whenever a player gets in a shooting slump, the best way to get out of it is to attack the rim. Hayward’s all-around skill set and knowledge of the game make him one of the most fundamentally sound players in this Draft.
Grade: A-
NBA Readiness
The NBA is a league for men. Hayward’s baby-face demeanor and slight frame do not project well for an instant impact in the league. While he has the fundamentals to hang, his body is not ready to handle the physical play. As mentioned before, his lack of upper body strength will be an issue. He will need to land on a team that allows him to solely play small forward since he would have serious problems guarding opposing power forwards. He may have to deal with some adversity due to his aggressive manner. If Hayward can toughen up, he could be this year’s version of Omri Casspi.
Grade: B-
Potential
Oftentimes, the media stereotypically profiles white players as having limited potential. Luckily, this is not the case for Hayward. He has the potential to be a full-time starter on an NBA roster, but it depends on what system he ends up in. His lack of speed would not fit in well on a team like the Golden State Warriors. A slow-paced tempo will be necessary for Hayward’s classic style of play. It is unlikely that he will become a star in this league, but he could be a high-quality role player. Being a role player is not a bad thing, especially if he lands on a contending team. One of the comparisons that Hayward receives is Matt Harpring. If Hayward could reach the level of play that Harpring had in his first couple seasons with the Utah Jazz, he won’t disappoint any team that drafts him.
Grade: B+
Best Fit: San Antonio Spurs*
Richard Jefferson was not the player the Spurs expected him to be before the season. One way of putting the pressure on Jefferson would be to draft a small forward to breath down his neck. Hayward is the perfect player for the Spurs because of his great basketball I.Q. The team loves versatile players who can play multiple positions. With the future of the franchise on Tony Parker‘s shoulders, Hayward would make for a great recipient of Parker’s drive-and-kick game.
*Hayward is projected to be a borderline Lottery pick to a mid-first rounder.
Runner-Up: Minnesota Timberwolves
Obviously, the Timberwolves would not select Hayward with their earliest first round pick, but they could select him with their second one. The Timberwolves were 25th in the league in three-point shooting and could not seem to elect anyone as the official three-point assassin. With Kurt Rambis trying to put in the Triangle Offense, Hayward would be able to fit in perfectly with his great decision making. His shooting stroke, ability to post up players and passing skills could make him overachieve in the NBA. If Ricky Rubio can make his way to Minnesota, the team would have a mean white trio in Kevin Love, Hayward and Rubio. That is not something you see every day in the NBA.
What do you think?
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April 13th, 2010 at 9:06 am
ctkennedy says:
he reminds me of mike miller cant play nothin but the 3 got the jumper and good enough to get to the rim and finish he got a quiet cockiness to his game like mike too
April 13th, 2010 at 9:07 am
Rex Chapman says:
Of course, the three players you compare him to are white…
April 13th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Kevin says:
Question: Why do you say, Hayward is a white forward? He can’t just be a forward? If you were doing a draft Profile of Ebanks your going to say, Ebanks is a black forward?…. Didnt think so.
April 13th, 2010 at 9:16 am
ctkennedy says:
@chapman and kevin name some black players he compare to in the league
April 13th, 2010 at 9:24 am
jdstorm says:
i think its so funny how we let race determine who we compare athletes to.
What if the next Bird was black, or the next Jordan white? would we really be able to see past our prejudice, in this race to compare the present to the past?
April 13th, 2010 at 9:41 am
ticktock6 says:
I thought the word “white” was used to describe him to explain why he’s probably going to get compared to Larry Bird… It’s right there in the sentence.
April 13th, 2010 at 9:46 am
Aron Phillips says:
Guys.
Why does it always have to be about race? There is no ill intent to compare white players to white players. If Gordon Hayward played like Ray Allen, then we’d make that comparison. But he doesn’t. Just as ctkennedy asks, what black players do you think he plays like? There’s no prejudice. And as ticktock6 points out to Kevin, the only reason it says “white forward” is to connect with the “ridiculous Larry Bird comparisons” in the next sentence.
April 13th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Boogie says:
Ok Aron, be honest now, if he played like ray allen you would still more likely compare him to mike miller. I mean how are you really gonna deny that?? Do you guys read your own posts? There has very, VERY, rarely been a mention of a white player being described as similar to a black player. Lets be real.
“Oftentimes, the media stereotypically profiles white players as having limited potential.”
this ‘media’ includes you, and you proliferate these stereotypes on the regular. Lets. Be. Real.
April 13th, 2010 at 10:11 am
Boogie says:
Also, lets not act like there are no black players he is comparable to. The league is like 70% black, and you;re telling me in that great number of people there is none similar to hayward? ok. More like there are, but they arent as prominent, or easily recognisable as such because that is not the style of play typically associated with black players. The fact that you cant name one does not prove that they don’t exist, it proves that stereotypes blind us to noticing them and that you partake in the creation and maintenance of that stereotype. I’m not saying its ur fault or that u invented the stereotype(cos thats foolish) but don’t deny falling into it.
April 13th, 2010 at 10:12 am
Rex Chapman says:
@ctkennedy–Corey Brewer, poor man’s Stephen Jackson, Tayshaun Prince, Thaddeus Young, Grant Hill (now), Trevor Ariza, Nicolas Batum, Travis Outlaw, Dorell Wright….
April 13th, 2010 at 10:16 am
thedoc says:
I think you’re underselling Hayward’s athleticism a bit. To me, he seems much more athletic than the comparison’s to Bird, Harpring, etc. From what I saw of him in the tournament, he’s got guard-like moves and handles, could take guys off the dribble, and at 6’9″ that’s going to be a tough matchup for a lot of guys. I think a better comparison is somebody like Keith Van Horn. I think he’s got a good NBA career ahead of him.
April 13th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Royal says:
Yea there was a little too much emphasis on the fact that he is white.I know that I would be agitated if a African American MLB prospect’s profile constantly mentioned that the player was black. No big deal though
April 13th, 2010 at 10:25 am
Royal says:
@Rex about 5 or 6 players you mentioned are WAY more athletic
than Gorden
April 13th, 2010 at 10:46 am
imungloloupaw says:
how about a homeless man’s kevin durant? shooter. same frame. about the same height. can get to the hole.
April 13th, 2010 at 10:47 am
Aron Phillips says:
@ Boogie
That’s crazy!
April 13th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Josh Tha roc says:
Didn’t Lucas compare him to Tim Thomas (not that anyone would really appreciate being compared to the career underachiever) argument over.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:15 am
MDZ says:
Hayward needs to go to the NBA now. His stock won’t get any higher, and another season or two will only let scouts pick apart the holes in his game. Also, even though Butler is returning almost everyone, it’s unlikely that they’ll make a final four run again next year. Hayward is a solid player, and should be a good 6th man/role starter depending on the team he plays for.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:27 am
weng santos says:
He isn’t a Dunleavy clone. He’s like a taller young Mike Miller.
Any way Denver gets him to shore up the 2-3 spots? Hahaha I wish!
April 13th, 2010 at 11:41 am
ArieGold says:
@josh, there is still an issue over labeling him as a “white forward”. I don’t even think he’s that comparable to matt harpring at all. Hayward’s game is way more finesse and quick off the dribble than harpring’s grind it out, mechanical type of game. I’d compare him to a less athletic Rudy Gay.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:44 am
Jeff says:
Saying ‘white forward’ is pointless and you should edit the post. It really is unimportant. You might as well just say “Hayward has slightly pointy ears and a moderately wide nose as a forward”. “Hayward is a black haired forward”.
It has nothing to do with basketball or an analysis of him as a player in this post.
Now, if you want to make it relevant, then there should be some kind of discussion of race as a factor in where he will be drafted. Since there isn’t even a single passing reference to that in the post, the fact that he is white or whatever he self-identifies as, is irrelevant and the post would make more sense without it.
April 13th, 2010 at 11:58 am
jeremy says:
“The NBA is a league for men. Hayward’s baby-face demeanor and slight frame do not project well for an instant impact in the league. While he has the fundamentals to hang, his body is not ready to handle the physical play.”….stephen curry?
April 13th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Lucas Shapiro says:
@Jeremy I like the comparison! Although they are different players, hopefully their impact is similar.
@Jeff If you read the next sentence, you would understand why I said, “white forward.” It was to emphasize on how similar he is to Larry Bird..
April 13th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
life-p says:
Did AB write this article?
April 13th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Lucas Shapiro says:
@life-p Nope, I did.
April 13th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
sh!tfaced says:
Think the word “white” was used to emphasize the athleticism…? Anyways, kid has got a more heart than most of them “white” disappointments from the past. He’ll most likely surprise most of us if given the chance.
Remember, he wasn’t as hyped as Redick or Morrison, he came from nowhere and most of us didn’t see it coming. Then again, there’s a chance he might be the next Joe Alexander or the next Chase Budinger… We’ll see…
But from a guts and heart standpoint, kid has got what it takes… If you watched the championship game, there’s little doubt that he was was the best player on the court with the best chance of making it in the NBA…
April 13th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Rex Chapman says:
Chase Budinger has been solid this year
April 13th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Rex Chapman says:
I really don’t understand why everyone is saying this kid isn’t athletic. During the tournament I saw him blowing by seemingly “more athletic” guys off the dribble and finishing well at the hole. His rebounding numbers (over 8 per game) were also outstanding for a perimeter player.
April 13th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
nicole says:
I LOVE YOU GORDON HAYWARD (:
GOSHHH HES GORGEOUSSSS.
April 13th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
ctkennedy says:
@champman heyward is a jump shooter at the next level will be a fourth option on the court so everybody u name is eliminated brewer is a defensive player with top 20 hops in the league stephen jackson is one of the best 40 in the league young,outlaw,batum u reachin like a motherfucker they be guardin kobes and lebron heyward will never be assign to them type player aka best in the league types