NBA Rumors: Charlotte Hornets open to taking calls for Gordon Hayward
Gordon Hayward may soon find another home. The Charlotte Hornets are interested in trading the small forward by the trade deadline. This is Hayward's third season in Charlotte, but it may also be his last.
Trading the veteran guard may be rather difficult due to his contract. However, there is no doubt that he is a very skilled player, and many NBA teams could use his services.
Hayward's skills have never been in question, but his injury history is a big problem. Fortunately, he only has one more year left on his contract, which is why some teams may gamble on him.
Charlotte Hornets are prepared to take calls for Gordon Hayward
According to Marc Stein, the Hornets are prepared to take calls for Gordon Hayward. Considering that their season hasn't gone well so far, this comes as no surprise.
Miles Bridges is still out and LaMelo Ball has dealt with several injuries as well. Due to this, the Hornets currently have a 13-34 record, which is the third-worst record in the entire league.
While the veteran forward is a solid all-around player, his inability to stay healthy is a big reason why the Charlotte Hornets want to get rid of him. He's only appeared in 22 games in the 2022-23 season and 115 games since signing with the team.
You may be interested in reading: Reports: Gordon Hayward's wife calls out Charlotte Hornets for compromising players' health
This season, the 6-foot-7 forward is averaging 13.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. He's converted only 42.4% of his total field goals and 29.6% of long-range shots.
Despite being only 32, Hayward is the oldest player on the Hornets. They have a lot of young and talented players, which is why the forward may be traded for draft picks.
The Hornets are nine games behind the final play-in spot. Considering they have 35 games left to play this season, it's almost impossible for them to compete. Due to this, they may decide to invest in the long-term future of the team.
Hayward hasn't been the same since suffering an ankle injury
After seven years with the Utah Jazz, Hayward signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics. In his first game of the 2017-18 season, the forward injured his ankle and has never been the same.
The former All-Star showed a lot of promise in his first season with the Charlotte Hornets. However, his production has since fallen off.
Gordon Hayward will receive $30 million for his services this season and has one more year left on his contract, which is worth $31.5 million.
You may be interested in reading: NBA Trade Rumors: Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat might be interested to land Gordon Hayward
While he is definitely not worth all of this money, the Hornets may have several suitors. However, they will have to find a new team for the forward by the trade deadline on Feb. 9.