Hornets head of basketball operations Mitch Kupchak had talked for the better part of the year about not planning to make a splash in free agency. So it came as a bit of a surprise when Charlotte completed the biggest unrestricted free agent contract of the 2020 offseason, signing Gordon Hayward to a four-year, $120MM contract.
Addressing that disconnect during his Tuesday session with reporters, Kupchak explained that he simply wasn’t expecting a player like Hayward to be available this fall.
“I did not think that we would be in a position to pursue a free agent of Gordon’s caliber,” Kupchak said, per Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer.
As for whether Hayward’s injury history made the Hornets nervous about making such a significant investment in the 30-year-old forward, Kupchak downplayed any concerns the team might have had, as Bonnell writes.
“He passed our physical with flying colors,” he said. “He’s a good age for an NBA player and keeps himself in great shape … There’s no reason to believe, knock on wood, that he won’t be healthy here the next four years.”
Here’s more on the Hornets:
- Speaking today to reporters about his decision to join the Hornets, Hayward said the team’s interest in him back in 2014 was a factor in choosing Charlotte, writes Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. He also sounded excited about taking on a bigger role than he had in Boston, as the leader of a young Hornets roster. “The think I like to do most is play-make and create for others,” he said. “Obviously in my career, I’ve done the scoring thing as well. I’m versatile. I can just help us try to impact our time with winning as much as possible. The pieces are there in place. Sometimes with a young team you just need to get over that initial hump to get to that next level. I’m excited about that opportunity and that challenge.”
- Asked today about waiving and stretching Nicolas Batum and his $27MM+ expiring contract, Kupchak explained that it would have cost the Hornets multiple draft picks to dump Batum’s salary in a trade. The team may also have had to take back another (smaller) veteran contract in the deal, Kupchak added (Twitter link via Bonnell).
- The four-year contract that No. 32 overall pick Vernon Carey Jr. signed with the Hornets will have a first-year salary of $1.35MM, followed by minimum salaries in years two through four, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN. The final year will be a team option, but it sounds like the first three will be guaranteed.
I’d trust Mitch’s judgement. Mozgov and Deng are in the HOF.
I don’t get it. If there is a handful of teams that are playoff contenders that are lining up to sign Nicolas Batum, why did the Hornets have to cut him? If he still capable of providing the contender with solid minutes and since you’re paying Batum anyway for this year, why did they do the waive and stretch? They should have just played him and at the end of the season would have been done with it. Now they have that money on the next three years cap. But I guess it doesn’t matter, they’re the Hornets.
Because they didn’t want to pay the remainder of his deal lol, it’s pretty simple. Can he still play and provide something of value? Sure he likely can, but on a much shorter and less costly deal. Like Mitch said it would have cost them picks and/or a returning salary they did not want in return. It stinks for them, but that is the cost of getting out from bad contracts that no one else values.
Philly fan they HAVE to pay the remainder of his deal. LOL. They just stretch it over three years. At least that’s how I understand it. They don’t get out of paying him.. they just reduce their cap hit by spreading it out. I hope that’s right.
@Gary that is correct, but they had to spread it out in order to sign Hayward. No one was trading for Nic and paying him without giving up a boatload of assets to unload him.
Don’t think it would have taken a ton of assets. Horford cost a 1st to unload. Batum, Zeller, Monk and a future 1st to the NYK for Randle and DSJ. Even if they had to add a 2nd or 2 seconds they wanted Randle and DSJ was a throwin salaryove for the Mavs deal.
Would still allow the Hayward deal to occur. Still not sure why they hardcapped themselves to help the Celtics out with a “sign and trade”.
Batum only had one year left so they weren’t going to add a 1st round pick, completely different Hortford
Hornets either could have traded Batum or waived him, I would have used a 1st to trade him and get his money off the books since I clearly have to overpay dudes to come to the team in FA.
It wouldn’t have taken a first to get Batum off the books.
The Hornets screwed this up. Plain and simple.
It won’t have a whole lot of impact on this year’s squad, but carrying $9M in dead money each of the next two years is going to complicate things.
Zeller’s $14M comes off the books next year. With that money added to an additional $9, the Hornets would have been poised to add a top shelf piece.
Now, they’re pretty much going to have to roll with what they’ve got for the next two years (at least).
We’ve gotta hope Hayward stays heathy, and Ball is legit. If so, the Hornets are a Top Six team in the East. But that’s it.
@fromthecheapseats
Who in the world was going to take Batum without getting a first or more? Was anyone offering to take him without this? No one I have heard of for certain? Most likely they would have had to give at least a first and/or a return contract/player. It’s not ideal for sure, but it should not hurt them to badly…seeing as they are 2+ years from contention if then.
If they didn’t waive Batum, they would’ve had to find another way to clear the cap room necessary to sign Hayward. There was no way to do it without sacrificing something (future cap room, picks, a decent player, etc.)
Okay gotcha. Keep Batum means no Hayward. Makes sense.
also i wouldnt be so sure he’s not washed. seemed like it last yr
I think he’s overpaid. I know he wants to be a leader again. He wasn’t in Boston. If he’s 90% of what he was before injury. Then he’s worth it for a young team. He’s still one of best shooters around. Not a Ball fan. But I’m high on Carey Jr. He’s old school PF to me. If he can get his weight down. All that baby fat. Get in NBA shape like Barkley did. When he finally decided to be great. I think he’s the steal of draft. MJ should be all over this guy lol. Hornets needed a SF. So this can work out for them. I’m rooting for Hayward.