NBA: Thunder acquire Gordon Hayward from Hornets

Gordon Hayward, a veteran forward with the Charlotte Hornets, was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.

 

The Thunder transferred forward Davis Bertans, guards Tre Mann and Vasilije

Micic, and second-round draft selections in 2024 and 2025 to Charlotte in exchange.

Hayward hasn’t played since December 26 due to a left calf injury. The Hornets

stated at the time that he would be gone for at least two weeks, but they did not offer a revised estimated time of return.

 

The 33-year-old Hayward may offer experienced guidance to a young

Thunder team that came into Thursday’s play in a three-way tie for the top spot in the Western Conference.

 

Since agreeing to a sign-and-trade deal worth $120 million with the Boston Celtics, Hayward has found it challenging

to maintain his health. At the conclusion of the season, he will become an

unrestricted free agent, earning $31.5 million.

He never participated in more than 50 games during a Hornets season.

 

 

In 25 games this season (all starts), Hayward is averaging 14.5 points, 4.7

rebounds, and 4.6 assists. Hayward, who was selected by the Utah Jazz with the

ninth overall choice in the 2010 NBA Draft, has averaged 15.5 points, 4.5

rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 809 games (646 starts) over his career.

 

The Thunder selected Mann, 23, with the 18th overall pick in the 2021 draft;

however, he has not seen any action this season. His current averages of 3.8

points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists are all less than his 140 games (31 starts)

career averages of 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists.

After playing for the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and Washington Wizards, Bertans, 31, was in his debut

season in Oklahoma City. This season, the 6-foot-10 forward had 15 appearances

and averaged 2.9 points and 0.7 rebounds. In 447 games (450 starts), he

has averaged 7.6 points and 2.5 rebounds over his career.

 

After spending years playing abroad, Micic, a 30-year-old Serbian, is currently

in his debut NBA season. Throughout 30 games, he has averaged 3.3 points and 2.5 assists in 12 minutes a contest.