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Free agent Gordon Hayward signs a four-year, $ 120 million contract with the Charlotte Hornets, Priority Sports agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Saturday.
Hayward became a free agent Thursday after declining his $ 34.2 million playing option with the Boston Celtics for next season.
Hayward has had a tumultuous three-year spell in Boston after signing a four-year, $ 127.8 million contract in 2017.
He suffered a horrific foot and ankle injury six minutes into his regular-season debut with the Celtics, which caused him to miss the rest of the season. He struggled at times in 2018-19, his first full season back, before taking a significant step forward last season, when he averaged 17.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.1. assists in 52 games.
Hayward also suffered various other injuries with the Celtics, breaking a bone in his hand in November and suffering nerve pain in his foot in December before suffering a Grade 3 right ankle sprain in the Boston’s first round playoff game opener. against the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World Resort.
He came back midway through the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat, but struggled as Boston ultimately lost in six games on their third trip to the Conference Finals in the past four seasons.
In total, he missed 142 games (playoffs included) after missing just 42 games in his first seven seasons with the Jazz.
When Hayward, 30, played, he averaged 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% shots 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 it.
The Celtics have lost up to two contract players to free agency over the past two years – Kyrie Irving and Hayward.
Tim Bontemps of ESPN contributed to this report.
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