The Oklahoma City Thunder made a significant move in their pursuit of a championship by acquiring Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets. The trade was finalized recently, and the Thunder received Hayward, while the Hornets got Vasilije Micic, Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, a 2024 second-round draft pick (via Houston) and a 2025 second-round draft pick (via Philadelphia), along with cash considerations.
Hayward, a former All-Star with the Utah Jazz, is expected to give the Thunder some much-needed depth as they look to make a deep playoff run this season. He is a skilled ball handler and playmaker who will take some of the pressure off star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his backcourt partner, Josh Giddey.
It’s unclear whether Hayward will move into the starting lineup or come off the bench, as the Thunder have a strong starting five with Lu Dort, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Giddey, and Gilgeous-Alexander. If Hayward comes off the bench, he is expected to provide a significant offensive boost to the second unit.
However, the 31-year-old forward has been hampered by injuries in recent years, and he has only played in 25 of Charlotte’s 50 games this season. Despite this, he has contributed an average of 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting 46.8% overall and 36.1% on 3-pointers.
For the Hornets, the trade means they are getting Tre Mann, the No. 18 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, who is averaging 3.8 points per game, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 13 games for the Thunder this season. Micic, a rookie, is posting 3.3 points and 2.5 assists in 30 games for the Thunder after being taken with the No. 52 pick in the 2014 Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. Bertans, a veteran, is averaging 2.9 points and shooting 41.7% on 3-pointers this season, though he has only played sparingly. His $16 million salary for next season is not fully guaranteed, while Mann has a team option for 2024-25 as he is still on his rookie contract.
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