The Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets have worked out a sign-and-trade for Gordon Hayward that would create a traded-player exception for the former Celtic, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The ESPN insider noted the Hornets are on the hunt for a third team to take Nic Batum’s contract to avoid having to waive and stretch the veteran wing’s $27 million deal.
The two teams have been in a holding pattern since Hayward announced his $120 million deal with Charlotte and subsequent decampment from the Celtics last week, negotiating terms for the deal in the hopes of making the situation more palatable for both sides.
Sources: Boston and Charlotte have worked on a sign-and-trade for Gordon Hayward that would land Celtics a trade exception, but Hornets have first been trying to find a third team for Nic Batum's $27M contract to see if there's a way to avoid waiving-and-stretching his money.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 25, 2020
As for obvious targets for the Hornets, only the New York Knicks have the space to absorb Batum’s deal outright, and they are likely driving a hard bargain for any teams looking to dump salary as a result.
The Oklahoma City Thunder could conceivably fold the trade into existing deals yet to be finalized, but would also be asking for a premium to do so.
It seems more likely Charlotte will carry his deal another season before dumping it on less onerous terms, and the Celtics and Hornets will end up hammering out a deal apart from it.
