The Charlotte Hornets are about to make their biggest free-agent plunge since...well, maybe ever.
The Hornets have come to terms with Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward on a four-year, $120 million deal. They’ll use up their nearly $20 million in salary cap space to do this. And that alone doesn’t get it done; the Hornets will either do a sign-and-trade with the Celtics, or waive Nic Batum and use the NBA’s stretch provision to facilitate the signing.
Risky? Absolutely. Hayward is 30 and has had two injuries in the past three years -- one of them a gruesome leg injury in 2017.