Thunder Acquire Gordon Hayward From Hornets, per Report

The Oklahoma City Thunder have secured a veteran rotational piece from the Charlotte Hornets ahead of the trade deadline.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are closing in on a trade to acquire Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for guard Tre Mann and forward Davis Bertans, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Hayward, 33, was in the final year of his contract with Charlotte and is set to become a free agent in the summer. He has been sidelined since Dec. 26 due to a calf injury and has struggled to stay healthy since breaking his left leg and dislocating his left ankle in 2017.

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Several years removed from his lone All-Star campaign with the Utah Jazz in 2016-17, Hayward still could become a key rotational piece who provides extra scoring depth when healthy for Oklahoma City. Hayward is averaging 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 25 games this season.

The 6-foot-7 forward did not help Charlotte achieve much success ever since he signed a four-year, $120 million deal in 2020, and he will end his injury-riddled Hornets stint with zero playoff appearances.

Gordon Hayward is set to become a free agent after the 2023-24 season.  :: Nell Redmond/USA TODAY Sports

In a fresh start in Oklahoma City, Hayward brings a veteran, well-rounded offensive presence to a young team that has far exceeded expectations this season.

As for Charlotte, the rebuilding Hornets get third-year guard Tre Mann, a 2021 first-round pick with decent upside, and Davis Bertans, a veteran sharpshooter who wasn't able to crack the Thunder’s starting rotation.

Since Hayward is on an expiring $31.5 million contract, the Thunder will have to take back more money, as explained by ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Bertans’s $17 million salary and Mann’s $3.2 million salary for the 2023-24 season aren’t enough to balance out Hayward’s figure.

The Thunder are currently first in the West with a 35–16 record while the Hornets sit in 13th place in the East with a 10–40 record.