NBA Rumors: Gordon Hayward to Be Traded to Thunder; Hornets Get Mann, Bertāns

The Charlotte Hornets are finalizing a trade that will send forward Gordon Hayward to the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Tre Mann and forward Dāvis Bertāns, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Wojnarowski later noted the Thunder are also sending Vasilije Micić and draft picks as part of the deal.

Murmurs that Hayward would be moved had surfaced recently, as noted by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

"He's a wing player that is absolutely for the taking that I think—on an expiring contract—has more likelihood than ever to get moved," Fischer said on the Jan. 12 edition of the 'Inside The Mavs' podcast (h/t Grant Afseth of Dallas Basketball).

"That being said, because of the expiring [contract], a lot of teams are looking at Hayward as a buyout possibility."

Furthermore, Wojnarowski reported on Jan. 23 that "Charlotte is discussing other deals on its veteran players ahead of the trade deadline and plans to continue accumulating assets." That news item dropped after the Hornets dealt Terry Rozier to the Miami Heat.

Now Hayward is moving on from Charlotte after averaging 14.5 points and 4.6 assists per game through 25 appearances in 2023-24. He's also shooting 36.1 percent from three-point territory, which is up from 2022-23 (32.5 percent).

The Hornets acquired Hayward in a sign-and-trade with the Boston Celtics during the 2020 offseason and inked the former Butler star to a four-year, $120 million contract.

Hayward averaged 16.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists over his first three campaigns in Charlotte. When healthy, he's a solid wing capable of averaging 20 or more per night and offering the veteran leadership sorely needed on winning teams.

Unfortunately, injuries have forced him to miss prolonged stretches.

Sprained ligaments in his left ankle and left foot discomfort sidelined Hayward in 2020-21, and sprained left ankle ligaments and continued left foot discomfort benched him the following season.

A left shoulder fracture and left hamstring soreness then kept him on the sidelines for nearly half of the 2022-23 season.

The 33-year-old Hayward is a 13-year NBA veteran who began his career with the Utah Jazz. He played seven years in Utah and earned his lone All-Star appearance in 2016-17, when he posted a career-high 21.9 points per game.

Hayward then left in free agency for the Celtics, who appeared loaded with him on the floor. Unfortunately, Hayward suffered a fractured ankle during his first game with the team and subsequently missed the rest of the 2017-18 campaign.

He largely came off the bench in 2018-19 upon his return and averaged 17.5 points on 50.0 percent shooting in 2019-20 before leaving for the Hornets.

The current version of Hayward will still provide a boost for the Thunder as they look to make a deep playoff run.

As a secondary scoring option, he fits nicely next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. His three-point prowess will be of use as well. Oklahoma City is second in three-point percentage (39.2) but 11th in makes (13.3 per game).