Gordon Hayward signs monstrous contract with Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets signing Hayward to $30 million per season feels like an overpay.

Good for Hayward, who’s battled injuries ever since he left the Utah Jazz for Boston in 2017. Then, Hayward’s maximum four-year contract sounded like a good idea. He was reuniting with his old college basketball head coach in Brad Stevens, and had perennial All-Star written all over him.

This year, in his latest turn at free agency, Hayward was expected to receive another respectable pay-day, but nothing like what Charlotte offered — and eventually signed — the 30-year-old to.

The Hornets missed out on a chance to sign Hayward in 2014, when the Utah Jazz matched their offer sheet for him. They weren’t about to get beat out this time for Hayward’s services. Read it and weep.

What are the Hornets thinking?

Yes, that’s $30 million per season over the next four years. It’s a ton of money, but this is also a team that gave Nicolas Batum a near-max deal not so long ago, so we shouldn’t be surprised.

Just one year after letting Kemba Walker walk, the Hornets and Michael Jordan opted to spend that money on Hayward. All of a sudden, Charlotte has plenty of star power in LaMelo Ball and Hayward. Devonté Graham is no slouch, either, and the Hornets could be a fun team to watch as they compete for a playoff spot in the East.

We’ll be the last to criticize owners for spending big money to put the best product on the floor, but this isn’t that. Hayward’s been a shell of himself since his latest injury. Heck, he can’t stay on the court. Hayward had to leave the NBA bubble with an ankle injury, despite plans to return. He can’t be counted on as a role player, let alone a $30 million per season superstar.

Perhaps the Hornets know something we don’t, but on the surface this seems absurd. But good for Hayward. Get paid, son.