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Charlotte Hornets: Looking back at pivotal offseason decisions

By Noah Purser

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 12: (L-R) Michael Jordan, owner of the Charlotte Hornets, talks to Dwight Howard #12 of the Charlotte Hornets during their game against the Utah Jazz at Spectrum Center on January 12, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 12: (L-R) Michael Jordan, owner of the Charlotte Hornets, talks to Dwight Howard #12 of the Charlotte Hornets during their game against the Utah Jazz at Spectrum Center on January 12, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 17: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics warms up prior to playing the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on October 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 17: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics warms up prior to playing the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on October 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Gordon Hayward

On July 9th, 2014, the Charlotte Hornets signed RFA Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $63 million offer sheet. This was *huge* news for a team just coming off a playoff appearance and in need of help on the perimeter. This signified that the team was looking to make a splash in free agency and weren’t scared to use their massive amount of cap space to do so.

Hayward was just coming off of Utah’s books on his rookie scale contract and the Jazz had reportedly made it known they would match any offer Hayward received. However, there were still some questions surrounding his game:

Report: Gordon Hayward to sign maximum offer sheet with Hornets (CBS Sports)

"“The problem: Hayward is a safe bet to be good, but there’s no guarantee he’ll be great. He shot just 41 percent from the field last season in Utah, and just 30 percent from 3-point range. Whether it’s the Hornets or the Jazz who wind up paying him, they’ll be making a big bet that those numbers improve significantly.”"

If Hayward would have ended up in a Hornets uniform, Charlotte Hornets basketball would have taken one of the more drastic turns toward success in recent memory. A core of Kemba, Hayward and Al Jefferson could have possibly secured home-court advantage as a top-four team in a weak Eastern Conference.

(You can read more about the possibilities with Gordon Hayward in a Hornets uniform here).

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