Philadelphia 76ers: Gordon Hayward Would Be a Pickup

If the Utah Jazz aren’t able to make the leap many are hoping next year, Gordon Hayward is a trade target that the Philadelphia 76ers should heavily pursue.

The Utah Jazz have had a handful of trade rumors swirling around their team for a couple of years now, but with a solid young core and ample potential to improve, there’s no reason for them to look into trading their core pieces — for now. Gordon Hayward has emerged as the clear best player in Utah, and will likely be heading their attempted leap into playoff contention next year.

With that said, if the Jazz do somehow falter and find themselves in the midst of yet another underwhelming year in which they simply can’t make the transition to Western Conference relevancy, there’s a chance they begin looking for other avenues for success. That’s where the Philadelphia 76ers come in, and the aforementioned Hayward would be the ultimate prize in a midseason deal, even if it seems like more of a pipe dream at this point in time.

While obviously there are several things that would have to go right (or wrong, in Utah’s case) for this to be a possibility, the fit with Hayward and the Sixers couldn’t be much more ideal. The Jazz are a team that would love to add a more offensively sound option at the five spot, either in front of or behind Rudy Gobert, while the Sixers still find themselves in desperate need of a go-to scoring punch.

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While many find it likely that Philly will look to address that substantial flaw via a loaded draft class in 2017, bringing in a player like Hayward who could instantly boost the team’s offensive effectiveness in a number of facets is always a desirable move. Ben Simmons is going to be the focal point of the Sixers’ trek towards newfound legitimacy in the East, but he’s far from a first option scorer at this point, and would be in a much better scenario playing alongside somebody who he could rely on for perimeter scoring.

Hayward is a smooth shooter from deep and is somebody who has shown plenty of prowess on the offensive end, whether playing off the ball or creating his own shots off the dribble. Even since his days at Butler, his offensive instincts and general feel for the game have always impressed, as he has overcome somewhat lackluster physical tools to become one of the league’s most proficient scoring threats at the three spot.

The 26-year-old gives the Sixers an instant boost in the spacing department, as he’s a viable 20-point scoring threat on a nightly basis. He gives the opposing defense another forward alongside Ben Simmons that they must game plan for, and could help get the opposition’s best defenders off of Simmons from time to time. Not only does that create more mismatches for Simmons to work with given his unique array of physical tools, but it allows Hayward to open up far more opportunities for the Sixers’ offense to exploit in general.

Hayward single-handedly kept the Jazz in playoff contention at times last season, and has by far established himself as one of the league’s most under-appreciated offensive weapons. In addition to his sweet scoring touch and smooth operation when looking for his own shot, Hayward is a smart passer when called upon and somebody who understands how to execute within an offensive system, rather than as the offensive system.

He’s an idealistic yin to Ben Simmons’ yang, as somebody who can relieve defensive pressure for the other and vice versa. Their intelligent method of play is highly complimentary, and Hayward’s scoring production is a perfect piece to work off of Ben Simmons’ budding on-ball facilitation skills.

Hayward also fits the mold of the Sixers’ rotation and their culture almost seamlessly. He’s a hard worker from a small university who has never really been driven by a desire for fame or personal accolades. He’s spent his time playing smart basketball in small markets, both in college and in the pros, and would bring the type of team-oriented mentality that should thrive under Brett Brown.

The fact that he’s still young is another massive bonus as well. He still has several years of prime basketball left ahead of him, and would be able to provide a staple in the Sixers’ rotation as they gradually climb into the playoff picture and beyond.

There’s a lot to like about Gordon Hayward’s fit in Philly, and the numerous ways in which he’d help make this a dream-like transaction that’s worth mentioning. While it’s far from a likely occurrence for the time being, this is a Jazz team that is getting impatient with their consistent stint of mediocrity.

While almost none of that is Hayward’s fault, we’ve seen teams make hasty decisions in favor of immediate change rather than a calculated plan in the past. The Hawks traded away Jeff Teague just a year removed from an All-Star campaign and a 60-win season. Remember when the Sixers traded away Jrue Holiday shortly after breaking out as one of the league’s most impressive up-and-coming stars? It’s the same concept.

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This seems like a pipe dream at the moment, and rightfully so, but the plausibility of a scenario like this playing out isn’t entirely unreasonable. Hayward would be well worth the price of a Jahlil Okafor and a handful of other entities, and if there’s ever a situation in which Utah is considering a mass overhaul to any extent, the Sixers should be the first team on the phone.

Philadelphia 76ers: Gordon Hayward Would Be a Dream Pickup

By Christopher Kline | Aug 4, 2016

If the Utah Jazz aren’t able to make the leap many are hoping next year, Gordon Hayward is a trade target that the Philadelphia 76ers should heavily pursue.