Should the 76ers say yes to this trade?
Following a career-threatening injury in his early days with the Boston Celtics, Hayward managed to carve out a role as a do-it-all forward who can shoot, create, and playmake. The 33-year-old has an extensive injury history, but he clearly still has enough left in the tank to contribute to a winning team.
Still, no. A hard no, in fact.
Factually speaking, Hayward is far from a washed veteran whose days in the league could be numbered. However, he does not add much to what the 76ers currently have on deck. In fact, one might argue that his addition could be detrimental in account of what is demanded from the team in this trade proposal.
Hayward’s skillset is already replicated to a better extent by Tobias Harris, who is turning in quite the season as a third option on offense. With Kelly Oubre Jr. also set to return soon, there’s simply little sense in trying to shoehorn Hayward into the equation. In fact, Batum and Morris Sr. present better fits as low-usage players who fill in ancillary roles as a connector (for the former) and an enforcer (for the latter).
That this mock deal also presupposes that the 76ers give up a quality young player in Springer and a valuable first-round pick for a rental is laughable, especially when that rental’s nightly availability is basically a Hail Mary.
Find another victim, Hornets.
Grade: F