Top Stories

Reports: Hornets to sign Gordon Hayward, waive Nicolas Batum

Charlotte makes the big splash to lure Hayward away from Boston.

Gordon Hayward heads to Charlotte after averaging 17.5 points in Boston last season.

Former All-Star Gordon Hayward is joining the Hornets for $120 million over four years, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Saturday.

Hayward, 30, improved his scoring average in each of his first seven seasons, all with Utah, before signing a lucrative deal with Boston in 2017. But he suffered a catastrophic leg injury just five minutes into his first game with the Celtics, a setback from which he only just showed signs of recovering from last season as he averaged 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists.

About to begin his 11th NBA season, Hayward is averaging 15.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in his career. He had reportedly shown interest in joining Indiana, his native state, before agreeing to terms with the Hornets.

Per Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, the Hornets will waive forward Nicolas Batum to free up money for Hayward.

Latest