Sam Presti on Hayward Trade: "I missed on that. That's on me."; Hayward's Wife Responds

[Effigy]

I'd say his bigger misses were doing nothing of consequence to help his team, and worst of all, being the team that facilitated Gafford going to Dallas instead of getting him themselves, and then getting beat by Gafford and Dallas in the second round. But sure, let's blame it on Hayward.

[Clyde Frazier]

I don't think Hayward is completely washed (the hornets were awful but he was productive for them this season). So yeah it was kinda surprising he wasn't trusted once he got to OKC.

[Loneshot]

He could never stay healthy in NO.

[Black Jack]

Keep your wife out of it cmon Gordon

His wife is her own person to decide. Just saying.

I was mainly joking.

[TravisScott55]

Gordan Hayward's wife is always trying to defend how garbage he is.

[celtxman]

I think both Presti and Hayward contributed to this not working. Why did Presti decide to go out of his way to down Hayward? Unprofessional by Presti and future free agents will know if you don't do well you’ll get bashed on the way out.
As to Hayward, both Boston and Indiana offered him over $100 million ( 4 years)when he was a free agent after his Boston contract was up. Zach Lowe reported that the Celtics offered as much as $110 million. Hayward signed with Charlotte for $120 million. He could have signed in Boston to continue a championship quest. He could have signed in Indiana where he was already living in a mansion. He chose top dollar for a team that had no championship future.
Hayward went for every last dime. It happens all the time - nothing new here. But he continued to be fragile and his performance wasn't good. OKC took a flyer. I'm sure the OKC staff gave him a chance. He wasn't brought in to be embarrassed. But on a team that ultimately won the Western Conference he needed to play good, meaningful basketball- quickly. It's hard to shift from sipping iced tea on the porch to the intensity of being meaningful for a championship level team.
It's up to him if he wants to really work hard in the off season because he knows how to play basketball well.

[Mavrelous]

MFer fleeced the entire league and still says he's learning...

[Deivork]

Keep your wife out of it cmon Gordon

His wife is her own person to decide. Just saying.

I was mainly joking.

[AlexanderRight]

Wifey scoping out for her next allowance. It's not a team's job to fluff you up for your next contract if you're not a high impact player. If he was one, I'm sure he would have gotten some meaningful minutes in OKC. Hayward has gotten more than a decent bag on his last two teams. Ask Charlotte and Boston if the money they gave him was worth it. Yeah, we all know the dude got hurt big time, but he still got paid.

[7r5ur]

Wifey scoping out for her next allowance. It's not a team's job to fluff you up for your next contract if you're not a high impact player. If he was one, I'm sure he would have gotten some meaningful minutes in OKC. Hayward has gotten more than a decent bag on his last two teams. Ask Charlotte and Boston if the money they gave him was worth it. Yeah, we all know the dude got hurt big time, but he still got paid.

He's made $240M so far not include endorsements, I'm sure she'll be aight

[Hoop Hunter]

His wife is her own person to decide. Just saying.

I was mainly joking.

She's legally allowed to speak her mind after leaving the state of Utah.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

None of that explains why GH was afraid to shoot the ball in the playoffs.

Did that for a few years with Boston. He would pass up the wide open three, drive to the open lane then pass the ball. It was frustrating at times with him.

I the reality is though this is Presti is clapping back at Hayward from his comments.

[Clemenza]

Let's see if the genius Presti and his million draft pics turn OKC into gold

[UcanUwill]

I got no problem with Hayward's wife defending her husband even if she is wrong. Big whatever there for me. But Presti seems a little disingenuous to me. Bottom line, he didn't want to invest future flexibility in this year's team and did this trade instead to create flexibility while pretending he was investing in it. I actually don't hate the patience but it wasn't something to me that had a shot of working for this year.

Not sure how Presti should have responded, but when you say you missed it, while talking about a person, thats a bit weird. His wife is fine to respond, thats reasonable to do.

It did look like Micic dump, which I didn't like, I am huge Euroleague fan, and not like I believe Micic is some kind of good NBA asset, but would have been interesting to see him on a good team AFTER he adapts to different environment, teams, rules, country, everything...

This is almost one of those things were I extend the guy, but then use amnesty clause before extension kicks in. And ok, it is not really, because after signing, they have seen him in practices and stuff, they had better idea of what they actually signed. But I looked it up now, he played 361 total NBA minutes in Thunder Uniform, number is actually higher than I thought it would be, but you give up on a vet you just signed from Europe after 360 minutes. He was good shooter in EUrope, his biggest problem in Oklahoma is that he couldn't shoot, but thats often what happens to Euros at first, speed, 3 point line and their minutes is different, the rythm is not the same and needs time for adaptation. ANd maybe Micic will be trash shooter in the NBA, but he is 36.4% career 3 point shooter in Euroleague on high volume, not great, but he can be fine. I don't know, I was just disappointed they traded him, Gordon for Micic is almost a lateral move and this was the move they gave up a pick also. It was a miss.

[TheGeneral99]

I didn't even know Hayward was still playing.

[TheAlchemist]

She’s really sweet to defend her husband like that.

Me personally, I’d be creating 7 different twitter handles a la KD and roasting Presti on the Harden trade.

But hey *shrugs*

[SomeBunghole]

I don't think Hayward is completely washed (the hornets were awful but he was productive for them this season). So yeah it was kinda surprising he wasn't trusted once he got to OKC.

Your definition of productive may be a little broader than mine. His BPM was -1.8. Easily worst since his rookie year in Utah.

[VeggieBurger]

Most of you commenting on Presti did not even see the entire conference so don't understand the context. Earlier he referenced Gordon Hayward's frustration in his exit interview and even acknowledged saying that he agrees with him. He mentioned how the trade was about getting cap space plus someone whom he thought could contribute, but now realizes how tough it is to incorporate a player like that into a system that is already working. Him saying he "missed" is merely an acknowledgement of that fact. Nothing more nothing less. He was more than complimentary about Hayward during the interview. If anything Presti stating that he missed is more of a self deprecating jab. He wasn't knocking Hayward at all. You guys are looking at his wife's emotional reactionary response. I suggest you guys watch the entire press conference. Presti is probably one of the if not the best GM to listen to - he's verbose, articulate, very level headed and analogizes well without making it so complicated.

[jkvonny]

Well, it's his wife. Most wives will defend their husband, it's what they usually do. Makes sense.

But, did Gordon really say that the trade made no sense? Why? OKC is a very young team and needed older veteran with playoff experience (Hello Gordon, thats you!).

He was pretty much a no show in this years playoffs, 0 points and hardly played off the bench.

[sol537]

OKC should have brought in Gafford instead of helping Mavs get him... they would be in the WCF right now with a decent shot at getting to the finals... ouch.