CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Hornets are finalizing a deal that will trade forward Gordon Hayward to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for two players, according to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Woj's report says Charlotte will receive Tre Mann and Davis Bertans in exchange for Hayward, who is averaging 14.5 points in 25 games this season. Hayward joined the Hornets as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Boston Celtics in 2020. His time in Charlotte has been marred by a string of injuries, including missing nearly half of the 2022-23 season due to a shoulder injury.
After signing a four-year deal with the Hornets, Hayward missed 42% of the team's games, WCNC Charlotte's Nick Carboni reported.
Charlotte (10-40) is near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, while Oklahoma City sits atop the West with 35 wins.
Hayward's future in Charlotte has been up in the air for some time as trade rumors started swirling ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. His skillset and expiring contract made Hayward an appealing option for teams looking to make a "win now" move, such as the Thunder.
This is the second major trade the Hornets have made recently after dealing Terry Rozier to Miami in late January. Miles Bridges, another player who has been linked to trade rumors, will reportedly deny any proposed trades to stay in Charlotte, according to a report from ESPN's Brian Windhorst, citing agent Rich Paul.
Locked On is the leading podcast network for local sports and is owned by WCNC Charlotte's parent company TEGNA.
Listen to Locked On here.
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.