5 Potential Timberwolves free agent targets with ties to Rudy Gobert
By Austin McGee
4. Gordon Hayward
Perhaps a forgotten duo, Gordon Hayward and Gobert shared the court for 250 games. The pair's paths crossed from 2013 to 2017. At the time Utah drafted the 7-foot-1 big, Hayward was coming into his own.
In Gobert's first full season as a contributor, Hayward averaged 19.3 points per game. However, after two additional stellar seasons in Utah, the Butler product signed a four-year, $128 million pact with the Boston Celtics.
Unfortunately, as most NBA fans vividly remember, Hayward's inaugural campaign was cut short after just five minutes of action. The 6-foot-7 wing broke his tibia and dislocated his ankle. Following the catastrophic injury, Hayward's career never resumed his once-All-NBA progression.
Hayward hasn't appeared in more than 52 games this decade and famously flamed out with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite the arduous journey, Hayward is easily worth a one-year "prove-it" deal. The one-time All-Star may command more than the veteran's minimum, but after not scoring a single point in the playoffs, Hayward will likely settle for less.
Plus, at 34 years old, Hayward's next destination will presumably be a contender. With a lack of wing depth and an absence of secondary creators, Minnesota makes sense. If free-agent Kyle Anderson decides to sign elsewhere, Hayward's inclusion makes even more sense.
At this stage in his career, a lower-volume sixth-man role fits Hayward's capabilities. He hasn't shown the durability to play big minutes, thus giving the former Jazz star about 20 minutes per game is fitting.