fair criticisms, but in any case i think you're overlooking the big picture to focus on the minutia. yes, 5" difference in leaping ability is marginally substantial, but as someone else pointed out, vertical jumping does not equal athleticism. in a general sense, hayward is an average athlete, which is why all of the sites i looked at when making the comparison called him out for that. they specifically referenced his footspeed, lateral quickness, and ability to get to the rim against NBA defenders -- all things that morrison was questioned on before his draft.
obviously he has the potential to be better ... but so did morrison. my point here -- again, backing away from the nitty gritty and looking at the big picture -- is that both guys got their points in college by being "crafty", and it's a lot harder to rely on that when you work in a league with the world's best athletes.
and, lest my points be misunderstood, this is not about being white. there are black guys who are slight of build, have tweener height, and are average athletes who have also struggled to translate their abilities to the pro game. no matter who you are, it's tough to go from being head-and-shoulders above your peers to being surrounded by people who are as good as you. it's just easier to make that transition when you have some outstanding strenghts you can rely on. for some guys that's athleticism, for others it's shooting, etc. i don't know what gordon's one thing is that's going to ensure his success, and that's what i worry about. but, like i said on the blog, i'll be thrilled if i'm wrong.
