NBA Offseason Grades: Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns make bold moves

Charlotte Hornets

People around North Carolina say Michael Jordan doesn’t like to pay his players. That is why everyone in the NBA was shocked when he signed Gordon Hayward for $120 million for four years. The Celtics and fans alike assumed when Hayward opted out of his $34.2 million contract with them he would end up resigning, but he didn’t.

The move wouldn’t have been stunning a couple of years ago when Hayward was putting up 21.9 points per game with the Utah Jazz, but since he broke his leg on the opening night of the 2017-18 season, people have wondered will he ever get back to the player he once was. Last season his numbers were close to his last season for the Jazz and that is why Jordan took the gamble on him.

They are going to have to decide what they are going to do with their guards. Hayward can slide to the 3, but they still have a log jam at the guard position, starting with Terry Rozier. He was signed last season to be the man, the player he was in Boston when Kyrie Irving was hurt in their playoff run to the conference finals.

While his numbers were good, 18 points and 4.1 assists per game on 42 percent shooting from the field and 41 percent shooting from the 3 point line, the player who came out of nowhere last season was Devonte Graham who averaged 18.2 points and 7.5 assists per game.

In this year’s draft, the Hornets added another guard when they selected LaMelo Ball with the third overall pick. Ball is a great passer but doesn’t play defense or shoot as well as the two other guards they have. With the uncertainty the team has at the guard position, even with a healthy Hayward the Hornets will probably finish with another losing record.

Grade: C