The Hornets. Gordon Hayward chose the Hornets.
In a surprising twist to anyone expecting Hayward to land on a proven winner, the former All-Star agreed Saturday to a four-year, $20 million contract with the Hornets, league sources confirmed to The Athletic. The destination opened eyes among a number of people around the league who were skeptical Hayward would sign with such a mediocre team. Still, it made sense for him financially, and word around the league lately has been that he also wanted out of the Celtics so he could take on a bigger role elsewhere. In Boston, Hayward was the fourth option with little room for upward mobility. In Charlotte, he should become the undisputed go-to guy next to the third pick, LaMelo Ball, and a supporting cast with some interesting pieces, including former teammate Terry Rozier. Hayward has been interested in Charlotte for a long time. He signed an offer sheet with the Hornets six years ago before the Jazz matched it to keep…
