The Charlotte Hornets traded oft-injured small forward Gordon Hayward to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for guard Tre Mann, forward Davis Bertans, point guard Vasilije Micic, and second-round draft picks in 2024 and 2025. The transaction was finalized late Thursday night.
Charlotte had high hopes for Hayward when they signed him to a four-year, $120 million contract in 2020, aiming to bolster their chances of becoming a consistent playoff contender.
However, the team has struggled to make postseason appearances, with this season marking their eighth consecutive absence from the playoffs, the longest streak in the NBA. Hayward’s frequent injuries have been a contributing factor to the team’s challenges, as he has missed 43% of the Hornets’ games since joining, including half of this season’s matches, leaving the team with a 10-40 record.
Despite Hayward’s injury setbacks, the Thunder, currently tied for the best record in the Western Conference, see potential in his return from a left calf strain to bolster their roster.
The 33-year-old forward has averaged 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 25 games this season, maintaining a 36.1% shooting accuracy from beyond the arc. Throughout his 14-year career, Hayward has maintained a career average of 15.5 points per game.
Meanwhile, the Hornets continue their rebuilding efforts, making additional moves before the trade deadline. Alongside the Hayward deal, Charlotte traded P.J. Washington to the Dallas Mavericks for Grant Williams, Seth Curry, and a 2027 first-round draft pick. To accommodate these changes, the Hornets announced the waiving of 2021 first-round draft pick James Bouknight, Ish Smith, and Frank Ntilikina.
This season, the Thunder have witnessed the emergence of young talents like Tre Mann, selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2021 draft. Mann, known for his promising performance as a rookie, has seen his playing time diminish due to roster adjustments but remains a crowd favorite.
Similarly, Davis Bertans, acquired from the Dallas Mavericks last year, brings his sharpshooting skills to the Hornets after playing sparingly for the Thunder. Vasilije Micic, acquired from Philadelphia in 2020, adds depth to the team with his exceptional passing abilities, averaging 3.3 points and 2.5 assists in limited playing time this season.
