Remember what Kyrie and Al looked like playing together when they were in sync last year? Just the movement of both guys and the ball was next level vs what everyone else on the team can do. Hayward is the other guy who can do that. He has a chance to complete the puzzle and make them look more like the Warriors with the way they move and sling it around the court.Why? Because when the ball isn't in Kyrie's hands the offense usually runs through Horford's in a motion offense where Tatum and Jaylen will also get their touches. It's a far different role than what he had in Utah when the offense ran through him almost exclusively. Just as Ray Allen's usage numbers took a big hit without the offense running through him as it did in Seattle (high 20's to 18-21) I expect a similar dropoff in Hayward's raw numbers due to a similar reduced usage as his role changes.
He’s not going to be tops on the team in usage with Kyrie, everyone knows that. But he’s not going to be limited to being a catch and shoot guy. He’s not even top 2 on the team at that skill (11 & 0) and it’s just a waste of his talent to isolate him like that. At that point you might as well trade him for Danny Green or Covington.
When they trot out the top 5 opposing defenses are so screwed. Leave your man at your peril. This is going to be fun.