Why The Brooklyn Nets Do The Deal
It’s abundantly clear that time is not on the Brooklyn Nets’ side. Things can sour in a hurry as they saw firsthand in the offseason.
It remains to be seen how long Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will remain members of the organization. They could finish their NBA careers as members of the organization, or they could both be on their way out within the next calendar year for all we know.
The Nets need to be aggressive when it comes to striking while the iron is hot. Durant and Irving are on their roster, and they need to act as though every year is the last year they are together.
Trading for Gordon Hayward would present the Nets with a complementary wing scorer to help fuel their NBA title contention aspirations. He thrives playing off the ball as a cutter and catch-and-shoot threat but is more than capable of scoring out of ball screens, using handoffs, in half-court actions, and can get an isolation bucket when needed.
The main struggle for Hayward has been staying healthy. He missed 49 games in 2021-22 and has only appeared in at least 50 games once in his previous three seasons. However, Joe Harris has struggled to stay healthy as well. So the risk is less troubling to take.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Gordon Hayward, Charlotte Hornets & Brooklyn Nets Updates
One of the key advantages for the Nets in this NBA trade scenario is that Hayward could be a solid hedge to future issues with Durant and Irving. He could assume a larger role alongside Ben Simmons if things were to fall apart with their superstars.
