NOVEMBER 26, 7:14am: Hayward will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis going forward, agent Mark Bartelstein tells Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
NOVEMBER 25, 8:54pm: Hornets forward Gordon Hayward has sustained a left shoulder fracture and is out indefinitely, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
According to Charania, Hayward is in the process of getting more testing done to reveal the full extent of the injury.
Hayward missed eight consecutive games earlier this month after suffering a left shoulder contusion on November 2. He returned on November 18 and had played three straight games prior to Friday’s victory over Minnesota, in which he was sidelined with the shoulder injury.
The 32-year-old had been a mainstay in the Jazz’s lineups prior to joining Boston as a free agent in 2017. Unfortunately, he suffered a severe ankle injury in his first game with the Celtics, and injuries have continued to plague him ever since — from 2017-22, he averaged just 43.6 games per season.
Through 11 games (32.3 MPG) in 2022/23, Hayward has averaged 16.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG and 4.4 APG on .445/.381/.767 shooting. In addition to Hayward, Charlotte has dealt with injuries to other key players, including star point guard LaMelo Ball (ankle sprains), who has appeared in just three games for the 6-14 Hornets.
Jalen McDaniels started in place of Hayward Friday night, and players like P.J. Washington and Kelly Oubre should continue to receive a heavy workload. Second-year big man Kai Jones also received a major uptick in playing time — he played double-digit minutes (28) for the first time in his career on Friday, recording career highs of nine points and 12 rebounds.
Remember when Ainge was flagellated for not overpaying this guy? Ainge looks a lot better in the rear view mirror.
Ainges looks like a moron because he should have traded him half way through his second year in Boston when he still had some value. Instead he kept him around paying his useless ass as if he would ever get healthy
Nah, he really doesn’t.
He had zero value halfway through his second year. He was coming in off the bench looking like a shell of his former self after the ankle injury
He should of traded him….. . So your comment must be directed towards yourself
Remember when Ainge had all the draft picks and came away basically with a whole lot of nothing. Guy can trade doesn’t mean he knows how to draft.
The usual outcome of a draft pick is nothing
This board is wayyy too infatuated with draft picks
Boston is a great team set up great for the future – Danny still has a lot to do with that
Been nothing but terrible luck since signing that contract with the Celtics. I really do feel bad for the guy.
Set your clock!
Wow, injury? This guy? No
I’m unfortunately more surprised to learn when he’s healthy than when he’s injured again.
Have to agree, another year, another Hayward injury. He just can’t shake it off. Shame though, bc he’s a pretty good baller when he’s healthy.
This dude is so soft. Remember when he broke his hand on a t-shirt?
This guy makes Malcolm Brogdon look like an iron man.
Shocked
Dude ain’t been healthy in five years. Body just total broke down. Was a good player for a while. That’s tough
They outta get more milk in his diet to strengthen up them bones
Wonder what team will be willing to take that salary dump for the next 2 years. Another bad call by the Hornets. Tank and hope for a high pick, re group next year with a top prospect and Lamelo.
NBA teams should stop giving Hayward more long-term contracts at this point. He probably needs to go overseas for a while (if he can) until he can establish that he can avoid these incessant injuries.
Of course, overseas teams that do their diligence probably won’t risk giving him a contract.