When Gordon Hayward opted out of the player option in his contract with the Boston Celtics just ahead of free agency, he immediately moved to the top of the board of available players and became the object of interest for any team with cap space.
The Knicks just happened to have a huge pile of cash and cap space. But even with new team president Leon Rose hopeful of making a splash, Hayward’s injury history and the rising price pushed them out of the running.
Monday night presented the first opportunity for the Knicks to face Hayward and the team that went all in on him, the Charlotte Hornets.