Thunder acquire F-C Hayes

THUNDER ACQUIRE F-C HAYES

In a salary dump move this morning, the OKC Thunder have traded recently acquired Aaron Gray, along with their own 2nd pick in 2017, for F-C Chuck Hayes, previously with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Gray, who was owed 4.7M for two more years after this one, was not getting any playing time under OKCs depth chart, even being placed at the inactive list. Hayes' contract, on the other hand, is expiring, giving the Thunder a much needed relief at salaries. Projected to be at the 95M-100M mark before trades (assuming they'd have extended Kemba Walker), the Thunder are now at the 77-80M projection, which leaves them still over the tax, but way under any Hard CAP penalties.

Now, in Memphis, Gray's probably going to start for a team that needs lots of help at the interior, lacking any size and rebounding ability. Hayes will provide depth and defense to a interior which lacks depth after Josh Smith's departure.

Hayes is deceptively good. He has some veteran smarts that produce wins. He is not going to get much (if any) PT but if you get an injury then you have a solid big to come in and play tough D and rebound