[WOJ] Gordon Hayward to Oklahoma City

[basketballwacko2]

Charlotte taking on at least 18 million in salary next year and OKC gets the best player in Hayward.

Interested to see the picks.

That's not right Bertans is only guaranteed $5.25 million in 2024.

Mann makes $5M next year, and Micic $7.7M, so yeah we are actually taking back $18M even when Bertans is cut. I wish we could've made a smaller move just for Micic, but I assume he was the main asset in return, with OKC just throwing out their trash with him, and it doesn't get done otherwise.

Micic looked seriously good the other night off the bench, and any coach with a functioning brain would start him immediately after that showing (what Clifford does is anyone's guess). But you'll get to see Micic first hand tonight if you watch our game.

--

Anyway I'd consider the asset breakdown at the time of the trade to be Hayward = Micic, Bertans+Mann+2nds = $10M cap relief in the offseason

Mann has a team option for 2024-25 and Micic did look pretty good as you said. What's the plan for the cap space if you have it?

[HornetJail]

That's not right Bertans is only guaranteed $5.25 million in 2024.

Mann makes $5M next year, and Micic $7.7M, so yeah we are actually taking back $18M even when Bertans is cut. I wish we could've made a smaller move just for Micic, but I assume he was the main asset in return, with OKC just throwing out their trash with him, and it doesn't get done otherwise.

Micic looked seriously good the other night off the bench, and any coach with a functioning brain would start him immediately after that showing (what Clifford does is anyone's guess). But you'll get to see Micic first hand tonight if you watch our game.

--

Anyway I'd consider the asset breakdown at the time of the trade to be Hayward = Micic, Bertans+Mann+2nds = $10M cap relief in the offseason

Mann has a team option for 2024-25 and Micic did look pretty good as you said. What's the plan for the cap space if you have it?

Mann's TO was exercised before the season, it's the typical rookie option... there isn't a lot of cap space but we need a PF/C that can play next to and instead of Mark Williams

[BlazersBroncos]

Micic has offensive talent but OKC is a team looking for dudes that can stay on the floor in the playoffs and for how much a savant Micic can be offensively there isnt a chance he could be on the court in the PO's and not be targeted every time down.

I am not hating on him, he is a huge upgrade on the CHA bench and his vision will get the youngsters open looks and help them grow / build their confidence. But he has limits and the glaring one is he just isnt going to be playable in important games.

Yep, this is part of the shrink trade theory -- add value to deals by moving players from places where they have less value to where they have more. Micic isn't good for a team that wants to play multiple playoff rounds. Micic is good for a team with young players they want to see develop without caring about the w/l record. So it added value to the deal for both teams.

And I'm convinced in the playoffs Hayward will be playing more minutes than Giddey. In fact, Giddey might not be playing really at all.

Relying on Hayward to contribute will be ..... interesting. Maybe being in the playoff picture might wake him up but he truly strikes me as one of the NBA players with the least enthusiasm for the game. He's a vet and it seems like he has other priorities in his life now. That's not even considering his broken body.

I think a vet like Gordon who has been beat down for years by injury is one of the most likely types to check out on a bad team. A team that has been bad for a while on top of that.

Again, not taking swings at CHA. Think this is a deal that will be great for both teams. They get Micic to help the youngsters get easy buckets (And if the stars align they let him walk when his deal is up and CHA starts looking like a low seed PO team - as again he isnt a playoff playable guy IMO), a swing on Mann and Bertans for some easy 3's.

OKC gets a guy that is basically a old, broken version of everything they hope Giddey would develop into - which this year seems to have become unlikely with his stagnation. They also clear a good deal of cap space.

[basketballwacko2]

Mann makes $5M next year, and Micic $7.7M, so yeah we are actually taking back $18M even when Bertans is cut. I wish we could've made a smaller move just for Micic, but I assume he was the main asset in return, with OKC just throwing out their trash with him, and it doesn't get done otherwise.

Micic looked seriously good the other night off the bench, and any coach with a functioning brain would start him immediately after that showing (what Clifford does is anyone's guess). But you'll get to see Micic first hand tonight if you watch our game.

--

Anyway I'd consider the asset breakdown at the time of the trade to be Hayward = Micic, Bertans+Mann+2nds = $10M cap relief in the offseason

Mann has a team option for 2024-25 and Micic did look pretty good as you said. What's the plan for the cap space if you have it?

Mann's TO was exercised before the season, it's the typical rookie option... there isn't a lot of cap space but we need a PF/C that can play next to and instead of Mark Williams

Well I saw that Mitch Kupcheck quit so hopefully they won't be signing anymore contracts like the on they gave Gordon Hayward.

[Devilanche]

Relying on Hayward to contribute will be ..... interesting. Maybe being in the playoff picture might wake him up but he truly strikes me as one of the NBA players with the least enthusiasm for the game. He's a vet and it seems like he has other priorities in his life now. That's not even considering his broken body.

This is why the OKC forum wasn’t that happy with him as our upgrade.

We don’t think his availability risk is worth it during the playoff.

If he can get on the court, he will perform just that we are questioning the likelihood of him being able to get onto the court.

[Andre Roberstan]

Relying on Hayward to contribute will be ..... interesting. Maybe being in the playoff picture might wake him up but he truly strikes me as one of the NBA players with the least enthusiasm for the game. He's a vet and it seems like he has other priorities in his life now. That's not even considering his broken body.

This is why the OKC forum wasn’t that happy with him as our upgrade.

We don’t think his availability risk is worth it during the playoff.

If he can get on the court, he will perform just that we are questioning the likelihood of him being able to get onto the court.

Basically where I'm at. I love the idea of healthy Gordon, and the cost is low. Availability is the question.

[MasterIchiro]

Mann has a team option for 2024-25 and Micic did look pretty good as you said. What's the plan for the cap space if you have it?

Mann's TO was exercised before the season, it's the typical rookie option... there isn't a lot of cap space but we need a PF/C that can play next to and instead of Mark Williams

Well I saw that Mitch Kupcheck quit so hopefully they won't be signing anymore contracts like the on they gave Gordon Hayward.

Mitch Kupchak did not resign nor was he terminated. His severance package includes an advisory role. I suspect he will be advising on the NBA drafts to come in Charlotte.

The owner signing the checks had nothing to do with Hayward?

I think Kupchak won the deadline. Reports are ownership hired basketball consultants to assist the GM with the trade deadline, but all negotiations ran through acting GM, Mitch Kupchak. These owners obviously still value his input.

Tre Mann is someone we brought in for the draft and someone the front office really liked through his first two seasons in OKC.

We did our homework.

[HartfordWhalers]

It’s highly unusual for a contract to end mid season.

[MasterIchiro]

It’s highly unusual for a contract to end mid season.

Almost like it was the plan all along as has been reported. What work is there to do after the trade deadline?

[Texas Chuck]

It’s highly unusual for a contract to end mid season.

Almost like it was the plan all along as has been reported. What work is there to do after the trade deadline?

If Charlotte thinks there is no work for a front office executive to do after the trade deadline, that actually explains a lot.

[MasterIchiro]

It’s highly unusual for a contract to end mid season.

Almost like it was the plan all along as has been reported. What work is there to do after the trade deadline?

If Charlotte thinks there is no work for a front office executive to do after the trade deadline, that actually explains a lot.

Well no major financial transactions. Does it make sense to you now? No need to get emotional.

[HornetJail]

It’s highly unusual for a contract to end mid season.

Almost like it was the plan all along as has been reported. What work is there to do after the trade deadline?

If Charlotte thinks there is no work for a front office executive to do after the trade deadline, that actually explains a lot.

Charlotte, with Kupchak at the helm, didn't think there was ever anything to do any time of year. The deadline was the time to trade a top 55 protected 2nd for Brad Wanamaker and then go back into hibernation on his watch.

It's heavily rumored that the owners took the lead on trade negotiations lately, and that is extremely easy to believe, given Kupchak's track record. Make no mistake about it, Kupchak was more than likely stripped of his powers as GM a long time ago, but is being allowed to stay on with some BS title because there's no way in hell any of the other 29 teams want anything to do with him. If he's doing anything more than providing input on draft prospects, he's being overused.

If Kupchak was actually negotiating our deadline deals contrary to reports, we'd have taken our usual beating in trade negotiations, or straight up not have made 1-2 of those trades.

[MasterIchiro]

Almost like it was the plan all along as has been reported. What work is there to do after the trade deadline?

If Charlotte thinks there is no work for a front office executive to do after the trade deadline, that actually explains a lot.

Charlotte, with Kupchak at the helm, didn't think there was ever anything to do any time of year. The deadline was the time to trade a top 55 protected 2nd for Brad Wanamaker and then go back into hibernation on his watch.

It's heavily rumored that the owners took the lead on trade negotiations lately, and that is extremely easy to believe, given Kupchak's track record. Make no mistake about it, Kupchak was more than likely stripped of his powers as GM a long time ago, but is being allowed to stay on with some BS title because there's no way in hell any of the other 29 teams want anything to do with him. If he's doing anything more than providing input on draft prospects, he's being overused.

If Kupchak was actually negotiating our deadline deals contrary to reports, we'd have taken our usual beating in trade negotiations, or straight up not have made 1-2 of those trades.

Fun narrative, but untrue.

[basketballwacko2]

Mann's TO was exercised before the season, it's the typical rookie option... there isn't a lot of cap space but we need a PF/C that can play next to and instead of Mark Williams

Well I saw that Mitch Kupcheck quit so hopefully they won't be signing anymore contracts like the on they gave Gordon Hayward.

Mitch Kupchak did not resign nor was he terminated. His severance package includes an advisory role. I suspect he will be advising on the NBA drafts to come in Charlotte.

The owner signing the checks had nothing to do with Hayward?

I think Kupchak won the deadline. Reports are ownership hired basketball consultants to assist the GM with the trade deadline, but all negotiations ran through acting GM, Mitch Kupchak. These owners obviously still value his input.

Tre Mann is someone we brought in for the draft and someone the front office really liked through his first two seasons in OKC.

We did our homework.

They did well on the trade of Hayward to OKC but man 3 full seasons of $30 million full of injuries, IDK if you're happy with Kupchak but I would not be if the Hornets were my team.

[basketballwacko2]

It’s highly unusual for a contract to end mid season.

Almost like it was the plan all along as has been reported. What work is there to do after the trade deadline?

For a team that is gonna be bottom 5 they better do their work on who to draft.

[KembaWalker]

I’d take Mann and Micic both over Giddey, strange move by OKC. Hopefully Hayward can be an upgrade at that spot for them

[slick_watts]

I’d take Mann and Micic both over Giddey

this will age poorly.

[KembaWalker]

I’d take Mann and Micic both over Giddey

this will age poorly.

I’m not gonna take the bait and make a Giddey joke

But for real, probably doesn’t matter cause Hayward will take his job in the playoffs

[luciano-davidwesley]

I’d take Mann and Micic both over Giddey

this will age poorly.

I’m not gonna take the bait and make a Giddey joke

But for real, probably doesn’t matter cause Hayward will take his job in the playoffs

Thats assuming Hayward isn't taking 6 weeks off for a broken toe nail.

[BadWolf]

I’d take Mann and Micic both over Giddey

this will age poorly.

But for real, probably doesn’t matter cause Hayward will take his job in the playoffs

Wouldn't that be a big win for the Thunder if they found a better compliment to their starting 4 then Giddey? Giddey would fit better with the second unit as a primary ballhandler anyway.