The Oklahoma City Thunder are
acquiring veteran Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets for Tre
Mann, Vasilije Micic, Davis Bertans and draft compensation,
according to The Athletic’s Shams
Charania.
Hayward, 33 and in his 13th NBA
season, is averaging 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists per
game in 25 games this season. The 6-foot-7 forward has been dealing
with injuries and now his four-year stint with Charlotte ends
having not played more than 50 games in a single season.
Hayward moves to a Thunder team
that’s currently No. 1 in the Western Conference despite being the
second-youngest team in the league, and his veteran presence will
be a welcome addition to the team.
In return, Oklahoma City sends
over 2021 first-round pick Mann, journeyman Bertans, rookie Micic
and some draft compensation.
Mann, who has not seen much
playing time this season in favor of other rising young players, is
only averaging 3.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in just 13
games played.
Bertans was in the same boat,
and he’s included in the deal to match salaries. The 6-foot-10
Latvian sharpshooter has only appeared in 15 games for the Thunder,
averaging just 2.9 points.
Micic, a EuroLeague MVP and
champion, gets moved despite having some good moments as a reserve
point guard with the Thunder this season. He recently scored an NBA
career-high 12 points in 17 minutes in a win against the
defending-champion Denver Nuggets.
