First off, Gordon Hayward does not need to return to what he once was. He does not need to return to the explosive slasher that we thought we were getting here in Boston. That said, he needs to get back to being a player worth a max contract. Which he has not been yet...
However, I believe Hayward's path will be far different than the general fan thinks. Hayward does not need to be what he once was at all. He simply needs to be a star once again. How he does that, really shouldn't matter. Hayward is going to become a player that is not reliant on his athletic ability, like most NBA players are. Paul Pierce is an unbelievable example of this. A guy that 100% has the ability, but does not NEED it to be an uber successful player in the league.