Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder govt vice chairman and normal supervisor Sam Presti stated he “missed” on the midseason commerce that introduced in veteran Gordon Hayward, calling it a studying expertise.
The Thunder loved a breakout season this 12 months, getting into the playoffs because the No. 1 seed within the Western Convention, however fell in six video games to the Dallas Mavericks within the second spherical.
Presti tried to fortify the younger roster by bringing in Hayward, an achieved veteran, again in February. Nevertheless, the oft-injured former All-Star averaged simply 5.3 factors in 17.2 minutes per sport for the Thunder in 26 regular-season video games and didn’t rating a single level within the postseason.
“I missed on that,” Presti stated Tuesday at his end-of-season information convention. “That is on me. However I am studying, I am attempting to be taught this staff, I am attempting to be taught the tempo of the staff a little bit bit. And attempting to be an ideal observer of the staff because it’s going via its paces, realizing that it is actually going to vary by itself in and of itself.”
The Thunder acquired Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets for guards Tre Mann and Vasilije Micic and ahead Davis Bertans. The Hornets additionally obtained a 2024 second-round choose and a 2025 second-rounder within the deal. Hayward was averaging 14.5 factors, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists per sport on the time, though he hadn’t performed since Dec. 26 due to a left calf difficulty.
Hayward final week instructed reporters that his temporary tenure with the Thunder was “disappointing” and “irritating.”
“I really feel as a participant, I’ve rather a lot to supply,” stated Hayward, who can be a free agent this summer season. “Simply wasn’t actually given a lot of a chance to do this. I believed I’d be given that chance.”
Presti known as it a “robust scenario” for Hayward and reiterated that he’ll try and be taught from the commerce.
“I do not assume I learn that one excellent, and I am studying from that by way of bringing anyone midseason and particularly early on within the course of for our staff,” Presti stated.
