Thunder forward has 'fans' within division rival's front office: Report

The mid-season experiment that saw veteran Gordon Hayward added to this title-hungry OKC Thunder roster didn't work out as many had initially hoped.

Now, following their semifinal ouster against the Dallas Mavericks, all signs point to the forward becoming a half-season rental, as rumors and remarks highlight a disconnect between both him and the franchise.

Despite his lackluster productivity in Loud City that saw him post mere averages of 5.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 26 games and, ultimately, lose his spot within the rotation during their ill-fated postseason excursion, the impending free agent is still an individual who could wind up garnering some attention on the open market and, per recent rumblings, a direct division rival could be open to bringing his services aboard.

Nuggets 'fans' of OKC Thunder veteran Gordon Hayward

Per beat writer Harrison Wind, there are members of the Nuggets organization who have expressed an interest in adding on the forward to the ball club's arsenal for next season, as he noted that he has received word that there are personnel out in Denver who are "fans of Hayward."

While Hayward's tenure with the Thunder was far from sensational or, frankly, even enviable, his productivity before being moved to Loud City and over the past several campaigns suggests that perhaps team fit rather than personal regression may have been the primary factor in his lackluster performance during the latter half of 2023-24.

During the three seasons prior to this past one while playing for the Charlotte Hornets, Hayward had found himself sporting impressive per-game averages of 16.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.0 steals while shooting a highly efficient 46.9 percent from the floor and 38.1 percent from deep.

Even this year, during his 25 games played in Buzz City the 34-year-old was once again putting forth impressive efforts, as he was averaging 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.1 steals on 46.8 percent shooting from the floor and 36.1 percent shooting from distance.

In the right setting and with a clear role within a rotation, there's reason to believe that Hayward is someone who can still serve as a positive contributor for a bevy of teams strewn across the league.

In Wind's findings, the Nuggets appear to agree with this mentality.