2010 Draft Profile - Gordon Hayward

Strengths: All throughout the NCAA tournament this year Gordon Hayward showcased the skill set that makes him a legitimate 1st round pick. On talent alone he’s probably worthy of a pick somewhere between #25 to 30. However, his exceptional intangibles are what make him a possibility to go as high as #15 in what is a very deep draft. Sure, he can shoot with efficiency from long range and has the true size to play small forward in the NBA. Sure, he moves fluidly without the ball and clearly has an advanced sense of offensive game play. Sure, he’s surprisingly crafty with the ball and able to get high quality shots off in traffic. All that is terrific, but again, it’s his intangibles that set him apart. Hayward is a winner. That’s often an underrated attribute amongst the pre-draft obsession with jump-out-of-the-gym athleticism. It doesn’t always show up in a stat line or on a highlight reel but simply watching the kid play shows you everything you need to know about him. Even though Butler was hardly an underdog as a #5 seed, Hayward's clutch scoring and gritty determination turned him into the face of the giant killer as the Bulldogs knocked off Syracuse, Kansas State, Michigan State and took Duke down to one of the greatest finishes in NCAA championship history.

Weaknesses: Hayward isn't especially fast or athletic. Undoubtedly, a lot of quicker wings in the pros will look on a pending matchup against Hayward as a prime opportunity to go for 30. That’s why the team and system he goes to must be a good fit for him. He’ll need to be protected within a system that either plays sound team defense and/or has a couple of big time shot blockers playing behind him. He’s also not particularly skilled at driving to the basket. A team that would rely on him more as a spot up shooter with the ability to occasionally break a defense down when the opportunity presents itself would be ideal.

Comparison: Mike Dunleavy comes to mind. Dunleavy has quietly had an effective and productive career. Hayward could easily carve out a similar niche in the right situation. Something in the range of 12-15 points, 5 rebounds, 100 three pointers and around 45% overall shooting is very well within the realm of possibility. That alone warrants a mid-1st round pick, especially for a veteran team that’s looking to fill some holes. Worst case scenario, he’s Adam Morrison.
Player profile submitted by: Alex Berg

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Gordon Hayward Stats:
Season	GP	MPG	PPG	APG	RPG	FG%	3FG%	FT%	BPG	SPG
2009-10	37	33.486	15.459	1.676	8.243	46.4	29.4	82.9	0.811	1.081
2008-09	32	32.656	13.125	1.969	6.469	47.9	44.8	81.5	0.938	1.5
Career	69	33.1	14.4	1.8	7.4	47	36.9	82.3	0.9	1.3

Gordon Hayward Videos

Gordon Hayward Draft Preview

Gordon Hayward Draft Combine Interview

Gordon Hayward Highlights vs Ohio State - last year

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