Why the Charlotte Hornets need not rush LaMelo Ball back from injury.
Just a few weeks ago, the Charlotte Hornets were arguably the best story in all of basketball. Heading into this season, not many believed the Hornets would play any factor in the Eastern Conference. However, through the first 44 games of the season, Charlotte was sitting in fourth place in the East.
Over the last few weeks, the team has fallen down the standings after LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward were lost to injury. The team is still clinging to the eighth seed and final playoff spot in the East, but will likely have to defend their standing by winning the play-in tournament to officially participate in the postseason.
That will be tough to do without Ball and Hayward in the lineup. Though, the team has gotten good news on that front. Ball, according to a recent report, could return to the lineup in 7-10 days. Meaning that he could potentially participate in the last few games of the regular season and then the play-in tournament.
While the Hornets would very much welcome the return of Ball into the lineup, I’m not sure it’s the best idea. As the team and Ball inch closer to a final decision on that front, we explore three reasons why the Hornets should be patient with Ball and a potential return this season.