Free agent Gordon Hayward is signing a four-year, $120 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets, agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday.
Hayward became a free agent Thursday after declining his $34.2 million player option with the Boston Celtics for next season.
He battled injury throughout his time in Boston, notably a broken tibia in his left leg and dislocated ankle suffered in his Celtics debut against the Cavaliers. Other assorted injuries have followed, and all told, Hayward has missed 142 games (playoffs included) during his three seasons with Boston after missing just 42 in his first seven seasons with the Jazz.
When Hayward, 30, has played, he has produced, averaging 13.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists with the Celtics. Last season, he became the first Celtics player to average at least 15 points on 50% shooting since Kevin Garnett in 2011-12.
Hayward signed an offer sheet with Charlotte in 2014 as a restricted free agent, but the Utah Jazz matched the offer and kept him.
The Celtics have lost two max contract players in the past to free agency in the past two years — Kyrie Irving and Hayward.