Gordon Hayward Signs in Charlotte

Apparently, Gordon Hayward has grown a bionic leg that only the Hornets and Michael Jordan are aware of, because Charlotte just provided Hayward with a 4-year deal worth $120M.

Is Gordon Hayward worth $30M annually? Not in this observer's mind. Prior to the devastating injury to his left leg, he was having a respectable career, averaging 15.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.5 apg in 7 seasons for Utah. Boston decided that he was worth $128M over 4 years after he busted out with a career year, going off for 21.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.5 apg in 2016-17. Back then, it seemed reasonable for Hayward big payday. But now? Not so much.

gordon hayward has flipped ONE western conference all-star appearance into two contracts totaling $228 million

— Martin Weiss (@martinweiss) November 21, 2020

There is no doubt that Hayward is coming off a year where he put up solid, if not unspectacular, numbers. He shot 50% from the field. He had a career high 6.7 rpg. His 4.1 apg were the 2nd highest in his career and his 17.5 ppg were the 4th best in his career. Nearing the age of 31 and athletically limited, can Hayward produce $30M worth of value? The long and short answer is emphatically, no. 

NBA World: No one will give maximum contract to Gordon Hayward.

Michael Jordan: pic.twitter.com/Ev5v0Wk2TP

— Buğra Uzar (@bugrauzar24) November 21, 2020

On top of the fact that this is a bad deal for the Hornets, they also had to waive Nicolas Batum. When you do the math and realize that they have to pay Batum $9M for the next three years, the Hayward move balloons up to a cost of $39M per year for the Hornets - wow. This is just a head scratcher from the Jordan-led Hornets.

And according to @KeithSmithNBA, the Batum stretch means Gordon Hayward now represents a $39M cap hit for the next three years. pic.twitter.com/smkYzfonKs

— David Jakubiak (@DavidJakubiak) November 21, 2020

Photo Credit: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire