Gordon Hayward, 31 years old
While this is very unlikely, Gordon Hayward’s name might be brought up the most when talking about potential Hornets trades.
While Ball, Bridges, and Rozier flashed their brilliance last season and came out of it as fan favorites, Hayward was the one who was Charlotte’s best and most consistent player. A foot sprain brought his season to a disappointing end, but Hayward was still able to average 19.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game.
Hayward shot the ball very well last year as well, 47.3% from the field and 41.5% from three. With Hayward just signing a max contract with the Hornets last season, it’s unlikely the team wants to move the star forward just yet.
However, if an all-star caliber player becomes available or the Hornets need to dump a big salary to bring in a player of similar status, Hayward would likely be that guy to be departing Charlotte.
At 31 years old, Hayward is also likely wanting to compete deep into the playoffs. Something the Hornets probably won’t be doing this season. He could greenlight a trade to happen if the Hornets are ready to make a move.
Again, this is unlikely but it’s not impossible by any stretch of the imagination.