Gordon Hayward
Gordon Hayward is likely the prize of the free agency class this year. Multiple teams will be bidding for his services with Boston leading the charge. Hayward has earned the acclaim though as he has steadily improved over his time in Utah and is now one of the top players in the league. Hayward scores at all three levels on 47-40-84 shooting splits (FG%-3PT%-FT%), he creates for his teammates (18.2% assist rate) and does it without turning it over much (less than two per game).
Hayward’s scoring ability is the top reason for the extreme amount of interest in him and his synergy numbers prove why. Hayward ranks in the 83rd percentile or better in almost all the major scoring play types.
|
Play Type |
Points Per Possession
Percentile
Transition
1.38
92nd
P&R Ball Handler
0.98
87th
Cut
1.44
85th
Spot Up
1.14
84th
Off Screen
1.12
83rd
Isolation
0.82
49th
Handoff
0.89
48th
Post Up
0.85
40th
Hayward’s numbers when laid out are extremely impressive and would be a boon to the Suns offense. Hayward provides a go-to scorer who will take pressure off Booker and enable them both to boost their efficiency.
Hayward will require the highest price for the Suns, unlike some of the others in this group, he is relatively young and does not have the endorsements or career earning of Griffin, Millsap or Iguodala. Hayward’s price will be steep and the Suns will have to do much more than renounce Alex Len and would likely have to dump at the very least the salary of one of Bledsoe, Knight, or Chandler.