3 Trades Thunder wish they made instead of acquiring Gordon Hayward

Dorian Finney-Smith

The offensive creativity and overall finesse that a full-go Gordon Hayward possesses was almost certainly the main talking point when it came to his playstyle fitting in and complimenting this Thunder squad ahead of this year's trade deadline.

However, what we learned from the club's recent postseason run is that a lack of three-point shooting efficiency and frontcourt physicality played a large role in their semifinal knock-out against the Dallas Mavericks.

A player like Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith could have helped on both fronts.

Throughout his eight-year NBA career, the veteran has made a name for himself as being a tough-nosed brand of baller who can stick with a wide range of players defensively and can step up big on the offensive side of the ball.

This past season, Finney-Smith went on to post solid per-game averages of 8.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting roughly 35 percent from beyond the arc.

Of course, the big topic of discussion regarding the 30-year-old at around the deadline was that the hapless Nets were rumored to be in the market for a couple of first-round picks in exchange for his services. When compared to what the Thunder coughed up for Hayward, it's clear that they went the safer, more cost-efficient route.

That said, the two-way intangibles and nitty-gritty style of play DFS sports could have proven to be extremely valuable during Oklahoma City's playoff run, while his deal (holds a player option in 2025-26) would have also guaranteed them more than just a half-season rental which is likely what the former All-Star will likely become.

In retrospect, shelling out two non-premium firsts for the Brooklyn veteran likely would have been a far more ideal choice to have made.