Tag: Gordon Hayward

Gordon Hayward available to play, clarifies role with Thunder

Gordon Hayward available to play, clarifies role with the Thunder.

After the trade was official, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault said Gordon Hayward would be available to play after the All-Star break. The 33-year-old has been out since Christmas dealing with a calf strain.

With the All-Star break over, Hayward spoke to media for the first time since being dealt on Wednesday and confirmed he’ll be available to play in the Thunder’s first post-All-Star break contest against the LA Clippers on Thursday.

That doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll rack up substantial playing time immediately. Daigneault said the team will work Hayward back after he was out for the last seven weeks.

“He hasn’t played since Christmas, so getting him on a track so where we’re not overplaying the hand, so to speak,” Daigneault said. “Integrating him into the team for the same reason. Both of those things align to putting him into a situation where he merges — like I said before — onto existing traffic. He’s got the spirit coming into it that he wants to do that.”

Hayward also revealed how he handled being dealt during the trade deadline, saying he knew his time with the Charlotte Hornets was likely ending.

“I kinda knew something was gonna happen before officially being traded,” Hayward said. “Just talking with my agent a lot, talking with my family — my four kids and wife, they’re back home in Charlotte — still trying to figure out how they can come see me was a big piece of it. The travel part, my kids are still in school. Being able to see them but still do my job, trying to balance that, schedule that out.”

Hayward has been a starter for essentially his entire career. This season, he started all 25 games he suited up for the Hornets. That likely will not be the case in OKC — at least not initially. Despite that, he said he’s willing to do what it takes to help the Thunder contend regardless of role.

“Just being focused on trying to do what I can to help us win,” Hayward said about a new role. “No matter how long that is out there on the court. If you’re focused on that, everything will take care of itself.”

In 25 games with the Hornets, Hayward has averaged 14.5 points on 48.6% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He has shot 36.1% from 3 on 2.4 attempts.

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Get to know new Thunder addition Gordon Hayward after trade deadline deal

Get to know new Thunder addition Gordon Hayward after trade deadline deal.

The Oklahoma City Thunder made a splash during the 2024 NBA trade deadline when they acquired veteran wing Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets.

In exchange, OKC sent Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic, Davis Bertans, 2024 second-round pick via Rockets, 2025 second-round pick via the Sixers and cash considerations to Charlotte.

The 33-year-old is on an expiring $31.5 million salary, so it could be a rental situation for both parties.

Hayward is out until after the All-Star break with a calf strain; once he returns, expect him to come off the bench with the possibility of starting.

Get to know Hayward and what he can bring to the Thunder:

Post-trade deadline 2023-24 Oklahoma City Thunder roster

Post-trade deadline 2023-24 Oklahoma City Thunder roster.

Following the NBA trade deadline, the Oklahoma City Thunder have their roster set for the rest of the way in the 2023-24 season.

After a few transactions, the Thunder are back to having a full 18-player roster — 15 standard players and three two-way players.

The starters will remain the same in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren.

Meanwhile, the bench was improved with the addition of Gordon Hayward. The Thunder also brought in Bismack Biyombo as a veteran center who can provide spark minutes off the bench.

Here’s an updated look at the 2023-24 Thunder roster following the trade deadline:

Recap: OKC Thunder’s Friday practice (Feb. 9)

Here’s a quick recap of the Thunder’s Friday practice:

The Oklahoma City Thunder held practice on Friday as they welcomed in veteran wing Gordon Hayward a day after acquiring him in the NBA trade deadline.

Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and starter Jalen Williams spoke about what Hayward brings to the table along with saying goodbye to Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic and Davis Bertans in the deal.

Daigneault also provided a critical injury update on Hayward and when he could make his debut for the Thunder.

Here’s a quick recap of the Thunder’s Friday practice as they enjoy the last day of their three-day break before traveling on the road to take on the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

Mark Daigneault provides injury update on Gordon Hayward

Mark Daigneault provides injury update on Gordon Hayward.

The Oklahoma City Thunder strengthened their roster with the addition of veteran wing Gordon Hayward during the NBA trade deadline.

In exchange, OKC sent the Charlotte Hornets a package of Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, Vasilije Micic, two future second-round picks and cash considerations.

It’s an exciting addition as the 33-year-old is a veteran wing off the bench who can also start and close for the Thunder.

The only caveat with the acquisition is Hayward’s health, which has haunted him for several years. This season is no different as he’s been out of action since Dec. 26 with a calf injury.

Daigneault provided further clarity on when Hayward can join the Thunder, saying it’ll likely happen in a couple of weeks.

“He’s feeling pretty good. He’s not going to play until after All-Star break. We need to take him through kinda our return-to-play protocol as if he were here all along,” Daigneault said. “We caught up with him this morning, got a feel for that. We don’t really have practice time to go through what he needs to go through to clear our internal hurdles to play.”

If he returns by the first game following the break, he’ll have a chance to play 28 games for the Thunder if he stays healthy. OKC is afforded the luxury of being patient with him since they will really need him for the playoffs.

In 25 games with the Hornets, Hayward has averaged 14.5 points on 48.6% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He has shot 36.1% from 3 on 2.4 attempts. The 33-year-old is on an expiring $31.5 million salary, so there’s no long-term commitment.

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‘He fills every need the Thunder had’: Zach Lowe gushes over Gordon Hayward addition

‘He fills every need the Thunder had’: Zach Lowe gushes over Gordon Hayward addition.

The Oklahoma City Thunder made a splash at the NBA trade deadline by acquiring veteran wing Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets.

In exchange, OKC surrendered only Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, Vasilije Micic, two future second-round picks and cash considerations.

In 25 games with the Hornets, Hayward has averaged 14.5 points on 48.6% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He has shot 36.1% from 3 on 2.4 attempts. The 33-year-old is on an expiring $31.5 million salary, so there’s no long-term commitment.

This is a massive upgrade for OKC’s bench. Hayward can serve as a great backup wing who can close games. He can shoot and create his shot. He also brings a ton of playoff experience to the young Thunder.

Hayward has had durability issues for years, and that has been the case this season. He hasn’t played since Dec. 26 due to a calf injury but was recently upgraded to questionable.

It should help that OKC likely will reduce Hayward’s role and workload, which means the amount of stress he puts on his legs will decrease. After the move was made, ESPN’s Zach Lowe gushed about it on “NBA Today,” saying it was a smart move by a smart front office.

“I want to talk about the Oklahoma City Thunder! … The top of the West — minus the Monte Morris move to Minnesota — has been pretty quiet and the Thunder just got a player in Gordon Hayward that can close games for them.

Perk mentioned Josh Giddey being up and down, Lu Dort’s been up and down. Gordon Hayward can play the three, the four, he can shoot, he can work off the dribble. He fills every need the Thunder had.

Yes, his health is a big question — I’m told he should be ready to play very soon, if not immediately for Oklahoma City. The Thunder did it! They went out and made a win-now move. Their team has earned this respect from the Thunder front office, they’ve earned a chance to really go for it.

It’s not the sexiest move but it’s a big move by their standards and the top of the West has a contender that fortified itself.”

Lowe is at the forefront of NBA media personalities, so getting his stamp of approval made Thunder fans like the move even more. There’s no real downside to this trade as the worst-case scenario is Hayward flames out and OKC has over $30 million in cap space to play with in the offseason.

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Trade grades: Examining what the OKC Thunder did during 2024 deadline

Trade grades: Examining what the OKC Thunder did during 2024 deadline.

The 2024 NBA trade deadline has passed, and the Oklahoma City Thunder made a pair of moves.

The Thunder bolstered their wing depth with the addition of veteran Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets. In exchange, OKC sent Tre Mann, Davis Bertans, Vasilije Micic and two second-round picks.

The other deal the Thunder made was more about improving the quality of their draft assets without sacrificing the quantity. They traded the second-worst of their four 2024 first-round picks to the Dallas Mavericks for a 2028 first-round pick swap.

This trade deadline perfectly exemplifies how the Thunder front office runs the franchise. It made improvements on the margins with an eye on the future without sacrificing too much.

Let’s hand out trade grades for the moves Thunder general manager Sam Presti made as OKC gets ready for the stretch run of the regular season and playoffs.

Dallas Mavericks forward Grant WIlliams becomes fifth Boston Celtics alum traded on 2024 NBA deadline

Williams joins Gordon Hayward, Dennis Schroder, Kelly Olynyk, and Evan Fournier among Boston alums dealt today.

A fifth former Boston Celtics alumnus is on the move today. Ex-Celtics forward Grant Williams is reportedly joining the likes of Gordon Hayward (from the Charlotte Hornets to the Oklahoma City Thunder), Dennis Schroder (from the Toronto Raptors to the Brooklyn Nets), Evan Fournier (from the New York Knicks to the Detroit Pistons), and Kelly Olynyk (from the Utah Jazz to the Raptors) in being dealt today.

Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Williams is being sent by the Dallas Mavericks to his hometown’s Charlotte with guard Seth Curry, and a lightly protected 2027 first round pick for Hornets power forward PJ Washington.

The Celtics have had conflicting reports whether they will conduct any further business before the 3 p.m. ET moratorium for moving plays this season arrives, but Boston will be facing a number of former players on new teams in the near future regardless.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Four Boston Celtics alumni on the move on the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline

There has not been much action on trade deadline day for the Boston Celtics after having dealt for Memphis Grizzlies big man Xavier Tillman, Sr. the day before, but four former Celtics are on the move.

There has not been much action on trade deadline day for the Boston Celtics after having dealt for Memphis Grizzlies big man Xavier Tillman, Sr. the day before, but four former Celtics are on the move. One of the four, former Celtics center Kelly Olynyk, has been traded from the Utah Jazz with “guard Ochai Agbaji to the Toronto Raptors for Kira Lewis, Otto Porter and a 2024 first-round pick,” according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The other, former Boston forward Gordon Hayward, has been dealt from the Charlotte Hornets to the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Tre Mann and forward Davis Bertans, wing Vasilije Micic and draft compensation, also reported by Wojnarowski.

The third is onetime Celtics floor general Dennis Schroder, who is being flipped with Thad Young by the Toronto Raptors for Spencer Dinwiddie, again per Woj.

Finally, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that former Boston wing Evan Fournier is part of a package including Quentin Grimes, Malachi Flynn and two second round picks that the New York Knicks are sending to the Detroit Pistons for Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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NBA Twitter reacts to Thunder trading for Gordon Hayward

NBA Twitter reacts to Thunder trading for Gordon Hayward.

The Oklahoma City Thunder improved their roster by acquiring Gordon Hayward from the Charlotte Hornets during the NBA trade deadline.

In exchange, the Thunder sent Tre Mann, Vasilije Micic, Davis Bertans and two second-round picks to the Hornets. Micic is likely the largest absence for OKC; he recently started to carve out a nice backup guard role.

In 25 games, Hayward has averaged 14.5 points on 48.6% shooting, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists. He has shot 36.1% from 3 on 2.4 attempts. He is on an expiring $31.5 million salary.

Health is an issue. He hasn’t played since Dec. 26. Hayward is inching closer to a return; he was recently designated as questionable for the Hornets.

Let’s look at some of the best reactions to the trade from X, formerly known as Twitter.