RealGM Basketball Wiretap

10 September 2024

• Greensboro Swarm Hire DJ Bakker As Head Coach

  The Charlotte Hornets have hired DJ Bakker as head coach of the Greensboro Swarm of the G League.

  Bakker was most recently an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks under Adrian Griffin. Bakker also worked under Dwane Casey with the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons.

  Bakker was head coach of the Motor City Cruise in 21-22.

• Hornets Hire Ryan Lambert As Director of Amateur Scouting

  The Charlotte Hornets hired Ryan Lambert as their new Director of Amateur Scouting, sources told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

  Lambert was previously a scout with the Thunder.

• Keyontae Johnson, Hornets Agree To Deal

  Keyontae Johnson and the Charlotte Hornets have agreed to a contract, per Johnson's agency of Priority Sports. It's unclear what type of contract Johnson is signing with the Hornets at this time.

  Johnson spent his rookie season on a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He saw action in only nine NBA game, but started in all 38 G League games he played with the Oklahoma City Blue.

  Johnson averaged 19.7 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Blue last season. The 6-foot-6 wing shot 53% overall and 40% on three-pointers.

• Nuggets Interested In Vasilije Micic

  The Denver Nuggets reportedly have interested in Vasilije Micic of the Charlotte Hornets. Micic is close friends with Nuggets star Nikola Jokic. The two are teammates on the Serbian national team.

  Micic is owed $7.7 million for this season. That makes trading for him a tricky endeavor for Denver, as the Nuggets are already over the first apron. That means Denver can only send back equal to or more than Micic's salary. Micic's contract contains an $8.1 million team option for the 2025-26 season.

  The veteran point guard played well for the Hornets, after being acquired from the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline. Micic averaged 10.8 points and 6.2 assists while starting in 21 of the 30 games he played for Charlotte.

• RealGM Radio: Wes Goldberg, Mike Prada On The Southeast Division (Aug 2024)

  Host Danny Leroux, Wes Goldberg of Locked On Heat and Mike Prada of The Athletic break down the NBA's Southeast Division.

  They discuss how the Heat, Magic, Wizards, Hornets and Hawks fared in the off-season, including which teams improved and what moves stood out. The three also predict the season to come, including projected finish, breakout players and rookies they are most excited to see.

  After that, Danny and Wes discuss him taking over as the host of RealGM Radio starting in September.

  Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts or via the RSS feed.

• RaeQuan Battle, Hornets Agree To Camp Deal

  The Charlotte Hornets are signing guard RaeQuan Battle to a non-guaranteed training camp contract. Battle is expected to land with the Greensboro Swarm of the G League as an affiliate player following the NBA preseason.

  Battle went undrafted out of West Virginia at the 2024 NBA Draft. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 16.1 points and 4.1 rebounds as a senior for the Mountaineers last season.

• Leaky Black Waived By Hornets From Two-Way Deal

  The Charlotte Hornets have waived Leaky Black from his Two-Way contract.

  Black averaged 2.7 points and 1.8 rebounds over 26 games with the Hornets last season.

• Gordon Hayward Retires From NBA

  Gordon Hayward is retiring from the NBA after a 14-year career. Hayward announced his retirement via posts on social media.

  Hayward played for the Utah Jazz, Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and Oklahoma City during his 14-year NBA career. He retires with career averages of 15.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

  Hayward played the first seven years of his career with the Jazz, before moving to the Celtics in 2017. Hayward fractured his leg just five minutes into his Boston debut and was never again fully healthy in his career.

  Hayward signed with the Hornets in 2020, following three years with the Celtics. He was traded to the Thunder at the 2024 trade deadline.

• Moussa Diabate, Hornets Agree To Two-Way Deal

  Moussa Diabate has agreed to a Two-Way deal with the Charlotte Hornets. Diabate, who is represented by Nodirbek Talipov and Aaron Turner, played in 33 games for the LA Clippers over the past two seasons.

  Diabate was the 43rd overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft out of Michigan.

• Reggie Jackson To Join Sixers After Waiver From Hornets

  The Charlotte Hornets are waiving guard Reggie Jackson. After clearing waivers, Jackson plans to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. Jackson is represented by Aaron Mintz and Dave Spahn.

  The Hornets acquired Jackson earlier this offseason in a salary-shedding move by the Denver Nuggets. The Hornets acquired two second-round picks for taking Jackson's salary into their cap space.

  This is the second time Jackson has been waived by the Hornets in a two-year period. Charlotte previously waived the veteran point guard following the 2023 trade deadline. Jackson then signed with the Nuggets.

  Jackson averaged 10.2 points and 3.8 assists per game for Denver last season. The 13-year veteran also played in all 82 games for the Nuggets.