After the trade was official, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said Gordon Hayward would be available to play after the All-Star break. The 33-year-old has been out since Christmas dealing with a calf strain.
With the All-Star break over, Hayward spoke to media for the first time since being dealt on Wednesday and confirmed he’ll be available to play in the Thunder’s first post-All-Star break contest against the LA Clippers on Thursday.
That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll rack up substantial playing time immediately. Daigneault said the team will work Hayward back after he was out for the last seven weeks.
“He hasn’t played since Christmas, so getting him on a track so where we’re not overplaying the hand, so to speak,” Daigneault said. “Integrating him into the team for the same reason. Both of those things align to putting him into a situation where he merges — like I said before — onto existing traffic. He’s got the spirit coming into it that he wants to do that.”
Hayward also revealed how he handled being dealt during the trade deadline, saying he knew his time with the Charlotte Hornets was likely ending.
“I kinda knew something was gonna happen before officially being traded,” Hayward said. “Just talking with my agent a lot, talking with my family — my four kids and wife, they’re back home in Charlotte — still trying to figure out how they can come see me was a big piece of it. The travel part, my kids are still in school. Being able to see them but still do my job, trying to balance that, schedule that out.”
Hayward has been a starter for essentially his entire career. This season, he started all 25 games he suited up for the Hornets. That likely will not be the case in OKC — at least not initially. Despite that, he said he’s willing to do what it takes to help the Thunder contend regardless of role.
“Just being focused on trying to do what I can to help us win,” Hayward said about a new role. “No matter how long that is out there on the court. If you’re focused on that, everything will take care of itself.”
In 25 games with the Hornets, Hayward has averaged 14.5 points on 48.6% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He has shot 36.1% from 3 on 2.4 attempts.
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