CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Hornets owner Michael Jordan and general manager Mitch Kupchak had no intentions of spending money on a big-name free agent this offseason.
But things changed quickly when Gordon Hayward opted out of his contract with the Boston Celtics.
The prospect of getting a playmaking wing - something Jordan has coveted for years - proved too intriguing to ignore, prompting the Hornets to veer slightly away from their well established plan of developing young players and pursue the 2017 All-Star.
''I did not think that we would be in a position to pursue a free agent of Gordon's caliber,'' Kupchak said Tuesday on a videoconference call.