NBA Trade Rumors: The Charlotte Hornets are looking to move Gordon Hayward ahead of next month’s NBA Trade Deadline.
As a team with one of the three worst records in the league, the Charlotte Hornets are a team that is widely expected to emerge as a seller. And looking at the team’s roster, there are plenty of potential trade candidates that the Hornets currently have.
The big question, with two weeks until the trade deadline, is whether or not the Hornets will actually move forward with trading any of their key veteran players. While there have been whispers that the Hornets could be open to moving a few players, there haven’t been substantial trade talks that have been reported.
However, that could change over the course of the next 7-10 days. And according to a recent report, that could already be starting to change. Per Marc Stein, the Hornets are anticipating taking trade calls on Gordon Hayward ahead of the trade deadline.
Hayward is one of the team’s most valuable veteran pieces that could be moved at some point before the trade deadline. Hayward has struggled a bit this season, both due to injury and offensive efficiency. Hayward is averaging 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game on 42 percent shooting from the field and just 30 percent from 3-point range.
Will any team bite on Gordon Hayward’s expected availability at the trade deadline?
If the Hornets do indeed shop (or take calls on) Hayward ahead of the trade deadline, it would be interesting to see what his potential trade market would be. He’s going to be 33 years old in a couple of months and is not the player he once was but could still play a valuable role for a team looking for a veteran presence heading into the playoffs.
Any team that is looking for some depth in the frontcourt or on the wing should be interested in Hayward. Where it becomes difficult is concerning the fact that he’s guaranteed $31 million next season. For many playoff teams, I’m not sure their cap is that flexible where they can just absorb that much money for next season.
So any team that has any interest in trading for Hayward would have to view this type of move as more of a two-year plan. That could prove to create an interesting trade market for Hayward. Will any team ultimately roll the dice?