2010 NBA Draft: Does Gordon Hayward Have What It Takes To Make It?
Let the debate begin.
On Friday, Butler star sophomore forward, Gordon Hayward, officially made the announcement that he has chosen to stay in this year's NBA Draft.
The decision comes one month after Hayward helped lead his Butler squad to an improbable NCAA Tournament run that left the Bulldogs just one bounce away from a National Championship.
It was a six-game stretch where we saw the young Indiana native turn in great performance after great performance, averaging 16 points and 7 rebounds per game.
The run helped catapult Hayward to nationwide prominence and has apparently given him the confidence to enter the NBA after just two seasons of college.
So the question now becomes, how effective can the 6'8'', 210 pound forward be when it comes to playing in the NBA?
Thus far, it seems Gordon has both his supporters and his doubters, and he looks to be one of the most heavily debated players in the entire draft this year.
Those that support him cite his offensive prowess and shooting touch as the reasons he'll succeed. Those that doubt him seem to think his lack of athleticism and killer instinct will prevent him from surviving night in and night out in the league.
There is no questioning he is a tremendous overall basketball talent but it remains to be seen how well his skill-set can translate to an NBA court.
Looking at it from a strictly stock standpoint, it seems Gordon is likely to be selected anywhere from the mid teens to the late first round. With the draft still over a month away, a lot can happen and it's not a certainty that he will be a sure first rounder. He is the type of prospect whose workouts will play a crucial role in where he ends up being taken.
He does not fit into every team's scheme and whoever selects him will be doing so with hopes that he can pay dividends over the long term, not so much right away. As with any rookie, it's going to take time to become acclimated to the NBA style of play.
Hayward doesn't have the makings to be a star in the league but it seems he can be an effective complementary role player if put in the right situation.
It will be interesting to see how NBA teams factor in the Horizon League competition he faced while at Butler the past two seasons.
The utter failure of Adam Morrison, another small school college basketball darling, probably won't help Gordon's case much, but it would be unfair to knock him down because of the deficiencies of others.
As a member of Team USA, he proved he was more than capable of handling himself against top tier competition at the Under 19 World Championship in New Zealand last year.
One must also factor in the social stigmas that white basketball players face when it comes time to make the move to the NBA.
It sad that in today's sports world there is still an undertone of race, but there's no denying that Hayward's ethnicity will mean even heavier scrutiny.
His lack of athleticism will be pointed out frequently and expect him to be compared to white players such as Mike Dunleavy and others whether those comparisons are fair or not.
Regardless of all the obstacles he will face in the NBA, Gordon Hayward looks like he has as good of a chance as any player selected outside the lottery to suceed in the NBA.
He's never going to wow you with his body strength or quickness but if his career at Butler is any indication, he can definitley make up for those weaknesses.
Hayward has what it takes to make it in the NBA, now all it is going to take is a little faith from an NBA franchise to make that possibility a reality.
