The NBA’s Free Agency started yesterday, and the Charlotte Hornets signed previous All-Star Gordon Hayward in a four-year deal.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN dropped the “bomb” on Twitter:
Free agent Gordon Hayward is signing a 4-year, $120M deal with Charlotte, per source.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 21, 2020
The Charlotte Hornets, had plenty of cap space going into this free agency and the organization just agreed to a deal to bring in the previous All-Star Gordon Hayward. Hayward was just with the Boston Celtics and after fighting grueling injuries, felt underappreciated by the organization.
Hayward’s injury was one of the most gruesome in history, being compared to Paul George’s while playing in for Team USA in 2014. Hayward was able to start videogame streaming and even had another daughter during his tenure for the team.
Hayward is a one-time All-Star in Utah and was a fan favorite in Bean Town, as fans across the city were supportive and in his corner since the gruesome injury.
Hayward in his first game with the Celtics suffered a dislocated ankle and since then has been rehabilitating with the team with his averages slowly raising. Hayward averaged over 20 points per game in his final season with the Utah Jazz and since his injury has been able to get his stats to about 17 points per game.
Hayward shot 50 percent from the field for a crowded Boston Celtics roster and picked up six rebounds and four assists per game. Hayward is still a very talented player and can give his career a spark after fighting injuries for the past few years.
The Charlotte Hornets can use Hayward in the wing position and have a legitimate roster to push for playoff contention. With the newly-drafted Australian superstar LaMelo Ball, Most Improved candidate Devonte’ Graham, and sharpshooter PJ Washington.
Hayward is the second player to come to Charlotte after spending time for the Boston Celtics, where this time last year, the teams agreed to a sign-and-trade between Kemba Walker and Terry Rozier.