After selecting Brandon Miller with the second overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Gordon Hayward’s time with the Charlotte Hornets could be nearing an end. Hayward, 33, has struggled with injury during his three years in North Carolina and will enter his contract’s final year next season.
According to Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer, Hayward is ‘likely’ to be a trade candidate for the Hornets during the offseason and could hold some value around the league due to the short amount of time remaining on his deal.
"“Numbers-wise, Hayward is probably the more likely of the two candidates to be moved only because of his expiring contract,” Boone wrote. “With the new CBA structured to make it more difficult to build super teams and tax franchises with bloated payrolls, there may be more emphasis put on shorter deals that help teams achieve payroll flexibility.”"
Since arriving in Charlotte from the Boston Celtics, Hayward has participated in 143 regular-season games, averaging 16.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists on 50.9% shooting from the field and 38.1% shooting from deep. Unfortunately, Hayward has struggled to enjoy a prolonged period in the rotation, as injuries have forced him in and out of the rotation.
Nevertheless, when healthy, Hayward is a high-level wing option who can operate as a primary ball-handler, off-ball floor spacer, and slasher from both the slot and wing areas of the court. The Indiana native is also a reliable defender who can guard multiple positions across the floor and provides some stern perimeter resistance.
There will undoubtedly be interested teams from around the league should the Hornets decide to make one of their star players available for trade. With that said, here are three trades Charlotte’s front office should potentially explore.
#1 Hornets send Gordon Hayward to New York
Right now, the New York Knicks find themselves being floated in trade rumors surrounding All-Star guard Damian Lillard. However, reporting has the Miami Heat as Lillard’s preferred choice. As such, the Knicks could be looking for ways to continue improving their roster after adding Donte DiVincenzo in free agency.
New York’s depth chart at the small forward position does look rather deep if you expect Tom Thibodeau to utilize Josh Hart at the three. However, RJ Barrett could slide down to the two-guard position to ensure playing time is available for Hayward, giving the Knicks some positional versatility within their rotations as a result.
In return, the Hornets would get a proven perimeter shooter and playmaker in Evan Fournier – who has fallen out of favor with Thibodeau. Fournier is a career 37.9% shooter from the perimeter and would certainly add some potency to the Hornet’s three-point offense while also giving LaMelo Ball another option to defer two when teams look to trap him and force the rock out of his hands.
Isaiah Hartenstein would give Steve Clifford another big man to work with. However, Hartenstein has shown an ability to operate as an offensive hub around the post due to his hand-off ability and court vision. It would be interesting to see how Hartenstein would fit alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller due to his off-ball movement and work rate around the low-post and dunker spot.
#2 Hornets help the Miami Heat land Damian Lillard
According to Bleacher Report’s Chris Haynes, a potential deal to send Damian Lillard to the Miami Heat would ‘almost certainly’ require adding a third team. Perhaps the Hornets could slide toward the negotiating table, hoping to acquire Tyler Herro while sending Gordon Hayward to Portland.
The Portland Trail Blazers would be acquiring a short-term deal in Gordon Hayward that would allow them to shed significant salary next summer while also receiving two future first-round picks and two future seconds. Duncan Robinson would also be under team control for multiple years and could become a valuable trade chip once the new Collective Bargaining Agreement comes into full force next summer.
A potential Portland-Miami deal for Damian Lillard would almost certainly include the involvement of a third team, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 1, 2023
Hayward likely isn’t the star return Portland would want, but he could provide solid minutes alongside Jerami Grant and Scoot Henderson in a rotation that will likely struggle in a stacked Western Conference. With multiple cap-space team’s looking to strengthen via free agency, the Heat and Trail Blazers may be short on willing trade partners willing to facilitate an NBA Finalist, further strengthening their roster. Currently, the Hornets don’t have enough skin in the game for Miami’s vast improvement to factor too deeply into their decision-making process.
Adding Tyler Herro would also remove the urgency to re-sign Miles Bridges and could allow the Hornets some flexibility in their decision-making process regarding the embattled guard. Miami would likely be on board with this trade, but there’s a legitimate chance the Trail Blazers are holding out for a bigger return than what this trade would give them.
#3 Hornets route Gordon Hayward to the Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers have been rumored to hold interest in Gordon Hayward since his time with the Boston Celtics. Hayward is an Indiana native and would likely welcome the chance to go back home and play in front of a hometown crowd.
The Pacers have been expertly navigating a roster rebuild in recent seasons and look to be adding to their current core in the hopes of giving franchise cornerstone Tyrese Haliburton some reps in the postseason to expedite his development further. Hayward’s expiring deal would also ensure the Pacers retain cap flexibility while also having the option to keep the veteran wing around on a more team-friendly deal moving forward.
In return, the Hornets would receive one of the league’s best catch-and-shoot threats in Buddy Hield, who would instantly transform Charlotte’s perimeter shooting woes. Last season, Hield shot 42.5% from three-point range on 8.5 attempts per game. Hield, like Hayward, is on entering the final year of his contract, allowing the Hornets some flexibility next summer while still giving them an opportunity to retain Hield should he prove to be a genuine difference-maker in the rotation.
Charlotte would also receive Jalen Smith as part of the deal, providing some additional size at the forward and center positions while allowing the Hornets to have a genuine backup for P.J. Washington or a ready-made replacement should Washington play elsewhere next season.
The cost of acquiring both Hield and Smith while shedding Hayward’s salary would likely mean the Hornets have to attach a couple of second-rounders, which are extremely valuable in the current market and would ensure the Pacers would be willing to enter into negotiations for a talent they’ve been tracking for multiple years.