Gordon Hayward is not likely to seek a buyout if the Charlotte Hornets do not trade him by the deadline, sources tell Marc Stein.

Hayward is in Year 4 of a his four-year, $120 million contract and is earning $31.5 million this season. Hayward would give up his Bird Rights if he's bought out.

Hayward has been out since Dec. 26 by a left calf strain.

Kyle Lowry is not expected to join the Charlotte Hornets before the trade deadline, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. The Hornets are interested in trading Lowry before the deadline, but his market will likely be limited and that could lead to a buyout.

If Lowry is bought out, the Philadelphia 76ers are believed to be a real possibility.

Lowry is a native of Philadelphia and the Sixers are one of the few teams below the first luxury tax apron, which makes them eligible to sign a player on a contract above $12.4 million.

The Phoenix Suns have interest in trading for Miles Bridges of the Charlotte Hornets, reports Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. Bridges is one of up to 10 players that the Suns have interest in ahead of the February 8 trade deadline.

Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports reports that the Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons are also interested in trading for Bridges. 

Bridges has a no-trade clause for this season, because he will lose his Bird Rights if he's traded. This is because Bridges is on a one-year deal with Bird Rights following this season. Because he'll be looking for a bigger contract than his Non-Bird Rights would allow for, Bridges would be considered a rest-of-season rental by Phoenix.

The Suns are also aware that Bridges has off-court issues that need to be handled. He has a pending court date for next month for allegedly violating a protection order stemming from the same domestic violence incident in 2022 that saw him receive a 30-game suspension from the NBA.

Another challenge in trading for Bridges is that the Hornets reportedly are looking for draft picks in any deal. Phoenix is limited in what they can trade, due to having traded several picks in deals to acquire Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal in the last year.

On a recent episode of The Lowe Post podcast, Zach Lowe said teams are interested in acquiring Gordon Hayward of the Charlotte Hornets. Hayward is slated to return from a strained left calf soon.

One challenge for teams is that Hayward is on an expiring $31.5 million contract. That's a big number to match salary for but could provide a team with some future cap relief.

Hayward has been productive when healthy this season. In 25 games, he's averaged 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 31.9 minutes per game. Hayward has also shot 47% from the field, including 36% on three-pointers.

The Miami Heat have acquired Terry Rozier from the Charlotte Hornets for Kyle Lowry and a lottery protected first round pick in 2027. If the pick doesn't convey, it becomes unprotected in 2028.

The Hornets have no immediate plans to work on a buyout with Lowry and will see if they can trade him ahead of the deadline.

With the trade, the Heat go under the second apron.

Rozier is signed at $24.9 million next season and $26.6 million in 25-26. 

In 30 games this season, Rozier is averaging a career high 23.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists. 

Terry Rozier has emerged as a possible trade candidate ahead of the deadline as he continues a career season.

Rozier has a known preference to join the Miami Heat if he's traded by the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

Rozier has two more seasons on a four-year, $97 million extension. 

Aaron Turner is the agent for Rozier. 

The Dallas Mavericks have been linked with Pascal Siakam, but sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports that they also have interest in Andrew Wiggins, P.J. Washington and Dorian Finney-Smith.

Wiggins is in Year 1 of a four-year, $109 million extension with the Golden State Warriors. Wiggins has largely struggled since leaving the Warriors last season for personal reasons.

Washington signed a three-year, $48 million extension with the Charlotte Hornets last offseason as a restricted free agent.

The Mavericks traded Finney-Smith to the Brooklyn Nets last season as part of a package for Kyrie Irving. Finney-Smith can become a free agent in 2025.

The Charlotte Hornets have made wing Gordon Hayward available via trade. There's a possibility Hayward gets moved, as he on an expiring $31.5 million contract.

Teams are also monitoring Hayward as a possible buyout candidate. Because Hayward makes more than the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, teams that are above the tax apron are restricted from signing him. This change went into effect with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Teams that are currently over the tax apron include the Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, LA Clippers, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns.

The Charlotte Hornets and the city of Charlotte are working together to upgrade the Spectrum Center, where the Hornets play home games. The work is expected to take place over the 2024 and 2025 off-seasons and will include major renovations.

The efforts are being led by the Hornets new owners Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin. The franchise is also planning to build a new practice facility, as well.

The Charlotte Hornets have had a rough season. Injuries have played a big part in the team's 8-27 record. However, some good news has come on that front.

LaMelo Ball could return Friday from what has been a 20-game absence due to a severely sprained ankle. Ball was injured on November 26 and has missed a month-and-a-half of action.

Ball has been upgraded to questionable for Friday's game at the San Antonio Spurs. The Hornets also upgraded Frank Ntilikina to questionable as well. Ntilikina has missed the entire season to date, after suffering a fractured leg in the preseason.