Indiana Pacers: Pros and Cons of trading for Gordon Hayward

Gordon Heyward has been rumored as a target for the Indiana Pacers.

One name that consistently comes up in trade rumors for the Indiana Pacers is Gordon Hayward, a hometown hero of sorts. Hayward, who played his high school ball at Brownsburg High School, may return home for the back end of his NBA career.

Hayward has had considerable success over his 10-year career, playing in over 600 games while averaging 15.3 points. Would a trade to Indiana make sense for Hayward and the Pacers?

Pros of trading for Gordon Hayward

Gordon Hayward would immediately provide the Pacers with a veteran presence on the wing. Indiana does not have much veteran experience on the roster, and with Justin Holiday set to hit free agency, they may lose their most seasoned veteran. Hayward, who will turn 31 next season, has been a consistent wing player for a decade at the NBA level.

Indiana also does not have quality wing depth, which would be masked by the arrival of Hayward. Hayward is a do-it-all kind of player that the Pacers desperately need. He has shown the ability to score with ease, including the 2016-17 season in which he averaged 21.9 points per game. In 2019-20, Hayward averaged 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists for the Celtics.

Hayward was able to bounce back from injury and play at a high level. After coming off the bench in 2018-19, he returned to the starting lineup last season and had his best season since his All-Star season in 2017. He is a good shooter who knocks down free throws and creates shots for himself and others.

Lastly, Indiana may simply need a fresh start. Trading for a player like Hayward, which likely includes shipping off one of Indiana’s own stars, welcomes in a new era of Pacers hoops. The Pacers can move on from Victor Oladipo or Myles Turner and begin their path for the future, should they wish to do so.

Cons of trading for Gordon Hayward

Trading for a player like Gordon Hayward is not a guaranteed improvement. As mentioned, trading a player like Victor Oladipo for Gordon Hayward, who is older and has battled injuries lately, is not the safest option when shaping the roster.

Factor in the money that is headed Hayward’s direction and Indiana would be handcuffed once again. In his final season under contract, Hayward is set to make north of $34 million and is not guaranteed to re-sign after the one year in Indiana. Swapping big contracts for a bleak future is a slippery slope.

There has been a drop-off in production from Hayward, despite him being a consistent scorer. As a starter in 2019-20, Hayward posted his lowest numbers as a starter since 2014 when he averaged 16.2 points. One big concern I have with trading for Hayward is the lack of certainty that he will be healthy for a full season while also contributing like we are accustomed to seeing.

Indiana is in a unique situation given the state of the roster and contracts looking into the future. Swapping Oladipo for Hayward, while making the money work, would likely harm the future more than it would help.