Thunder trade for Hornets' Hayward
The Oklahoma City Thunder acquired forward Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets, the teams announced.
Oklahoma City is sending former EuroLeague star Vasilije Micic, guard Tre Mann, and forward Davis Bertans to Charlotte in the deal. The Hornets will also receive second-round picks in 2024 and 2025.
Hayward, on the final year of a four-year, $120-million contract, is averaging 14.5 points per game along with 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists through 25 contests. However, the 33-year-old former All-Star hasn't played since Dec. 26 due to a calf issue.
Micic is a former EuroLeague MVP and a two-time winner of the most prestigious competition in European basketball while playing with Turkey's Anadolu Efes. He was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, though the team eventually traded his rights in 2020 to the Thunder. He signed his first NBA contract this past July but has averaged just 12 minutes over 30 contests in his debut season, scoring 3.3 points per game.
Mann and Bertans have been seldom used in Oklahoma City this season. The former was drafted 18th overall by the Thunder in 2021, while Bertans was acquired at the 2023 draft from the Dallas Mavericks in an exchange of the Nos. 10 and 12 picks.