Hornets Trying To Trade Gordon Hayward, One Draft Pick

[RealGM Wiretap]

Speaking on ESPN, Brian Windhorst shared some intel on the Charlotte Hornets plans at the 2022 NBA Draft and during free agency. Windhorst said that that Charlotte is looking to clear some salary obligations and is willing to attach either of their 2022 draft picks to do it.

The player mentioned was Gordon Hayward, who has a $30.1 million salary for next season and is owed $31.5 million in 2023-24. The Hornets may be willing to move either #13 or #15 in the 2022 NBA Draft to get off of Hayward's deal.

The concern for Charlotte seems to be creating some wiggle room to re-sign Miles Bridges. It's been reported that the Hornets have hesitancy on matching a max offer sheet for Bridges in restricted free agency. This mostly seems due to the team's mounting salary obligations, with Hayward's $30 million-plus deal on the books.

Via Brian Windhorst/ESPN

[Not2BeBothered]

Lack of other teams capspace make these trades almost impossible

[baldur]

Maybe okc?

[BigHustle]

Would be a great role player or 2nd option if you thought he’d stay healthy and the salary was cut to 15-20m .

[nocomingnogoing]

Cheap billionaires - lame franchise

[Bentley1225]

Hayward + #13
for
Isaac + Ross

[objectivefan]

And this is why Charlotte will stay a bottom feeder.

1. No one was trying to give Hayward that money, but Charlotte did. I still do not know why.
2. Why are you giving up assets? take a flyer on the 13 and 14 instead of trading them to clear salary-cap space.
3. Bundle 13 + 14 to move up or trade them for picks next year.

here is what's going to happen, Charlotte is going to trade Haryward and picks and watch those picks turn into a future all-star for another team. And yes, Hayward will have a re-surgent year (umm.. maybe)

[closg00]

Yeah, good luck with that.

[dubbmotta]

OKC or Indy might..they want draft picks, have the cap space and no big time FA’s going to those locations.

[MavfanAus]

Jordan really is a-ss at running a franchise.

[Dick Tate]

And this is why Charlotte will stay a bottom feeder.

1. No one was trying to give Hayward that money, but Charlotte did. I still do not know why.
2. Why are you giving up assets? take a flyer on the 13 and 14 instead of trading them to clear salary-cap space.
3. Bundle 13 + 14 to move up or trade them for picks next year.

here is what's going to happen, Charlotte is going to trade Haryward and picks and watch those picks turn into a future all-star for another team. And yes, Hayward will have a re-surgent year (umm.. maybe)

Now we know why Atkinson reneged.

[Temuhjan]

What happened to the Westbrook + 2027 first round pick for Hayward + Rozier deal? Russ only have one season left.

You gain a FRP and save $3.6m immediately, then you simply pay a team with cap space a second round pick midway through the season to get rid of him.

[Topofthekey]

Dumbass Hornets front office went full (Please Use More Appropriate Word) and outbid Pacers for Hayward but are now trying to attach a FRP to dump him

[KenoP13]

Lakers should get in on this.. Send Westbrook for Hawyward + Filler. Then trade the 13-15 pick + THT for Brogdon.

[John Murdoch]

Another Mozgov/Deng deal for good ol Kupchack

[GunnerWRX]

Lakers should get in on this.. Send Westbrook for Hawyward + Filler. Then trade the 13-15 pick + THT for Brogdon.

Sounds like the Hornets are sending the pick for a team to absorb Hayward fully, without taking anything back. If they need to take back salary (even expiring), I don't think they are sending a lottery pick out.

Hayward has 2 years left. Saving 1 year of salary isn't worth a #13-15 pick.

[puja21]

What happened to the Westbrook + 2027 first round pick for Hayward + Rozier deal? Russ only have one season left.

You gain a FRP and save $3.6m immediately, then you simply pay a team with cap space a second round pick midway through the season to get rid of him.

can't see any team simply absorbing RW for a 2nd round pick

The cost on open market is typically 2M to 2.5M just to "buy" one outright

Boston had to send a 1st with Kemba, and that was even with Horford's offsetting salary coming back

[puja21]

And this is why Charlotte will stay a bottom feeder.

1. No one was trying to give Hayward that money, but Charlotte did. I still do not know why.
2. Why are you giving up assets? take a flyer on the 13 and 14 instead of trading them to clear salary-cap space.
3. Bundle 13 + 14 to move up or trade them for picks next year.

here is what's going to happen, Charlotte is going to trade Haryward and picks and watch those picks turn into a future all-star for another team. And yes, Hayward will have a re-surgent year (umm.. maybe)

Obviously injuries have continued to be a major problem but Hayward was coming off 50/39/85 shooting for boston with ~18/7/4 and he would've opted in to his 34M if Charlotte wasn't pursuing.

His avg salary of 30M isn't far off his production. it's just the missing games, which are easy to predict in hindsight.
(Similarly, people on Wiretap right now are arguing Brogdon isn't injury-prone because his various ailments haven't been chronic)

Hayward was killing it the first year w/ CHA before spraining his foot in April. Sometimes you've gotta roll the dice and hope a guy stays healthy

For comparison, other players making more than Hayward this season: Kemba, Tobias, Simmons, Blake Griffin, Kristaps, Wiggins, Love, D'Angelo

[HotelVitale]

And this is why Charlotte will stay a bottom feeder.

1. No one was trying to give Hayward that money, but Charlotte did. I still do not know why.
2. Why are you giving up assets? take a flyer on the 13 and 14 instead of trading them to clear salary-cap space.
3. Bundle 13 + 14 to move up or trade them for picks next year.

here is what's going to happen, Charlotte is going to trade Haryward and picks and watch those picks turn into a future all-star for another team. And yes, Hayward will have a re-surgent year (umm.. maybe)

Obviously injuries have continued to be a major problem but Hayward was coming off 50/39/85 shooting for boston with ~18/7/4 and he would've opted in to his 34M if Charlotte wasn't pursuing.

His avg salary of 30M isn't far off his production. it's just the missing games, which are easy to predict in hindsight.
(Similarly, people on Wiretap right now are arguing Brogdon isn't injury-prone because his various ailments haven't been chronic)

Hayward was killing it the first year w/ CHA before spraining his foot in April. Sometimes you've gotta roll the dice and hope a guy stays healthy

For comparison, other players making more than Hayward this season: Kemba, Tobias, Simmons, Blake Griffin, Kristaps, Wiggins, Love, D'Angelo

Have to disagree with this. Gordon Hayward is one of the most injured players of the last decade, he was a massive massive injury risk at the time of the deal and it was not a good gamble at all. That's the reason why no one else came remotely close to matching CHA's offer, including several teams (like IND) that had good reason to pursue him.

I never like the way realgm folks cackle at or blast stuff in hindsight all the time, but this one is deserved. I remember specifically saying that a betting man shouldn't put any money on Hayward being healthy enough to play in more than half of the PO games he might be in during the length of that contract.

[Loisl]

Evan Fournier and Nerlens Noel for Hayward and one of their FRP and I'm in.
They save 2mil this and 13mil next year.