Why The Charlotte Hornets Do The Deal 

We almost included a first-round pick for the Hornets in this trade. Almost. 

It is clear that Hayward’s contract is not optimal. There has been a decline in his production. Basically, any team that is willing to part with a first-round pick can probably find a more valuable asset somewhere else if they are willing to trade that pick. 

Neither O’Neale nor Harris are treated this way by the Hornets, either. The fact is that either one of them could be a valuable contributor to this team next year, regardless of their position. At that point, the Hornets will probably want to be done with tanking by that point. 

In this case, the Hornets are trading Hayward for Sharpe. There is no doubt that he is a young and promising big with solid defensive skills and decent touch.

NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Gordon Hayward, Charlotte Hornets & Brooklyn Nets Updates

At the same time, the Hornets are still in the process of setting up the center position on the team. It would be a great addition to this team to have him on board. 

In spite of the fact that he is unlikely to become a star in the near future.