Charlotte Hornets: Can Gordon Hayward and LaMelo Ball work?

Hayward playmaking for LaMelo Ball

Gordon Hayward signed with the Boston Celtics envisioning he’d be the second option behind Isaiah Thomas, and oh how time flies.

We all know the story, Jayson Tatum goes toe to toe with LeBron James in 2017, Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving, and Kemba Walker all become priorities over Hayward in the offense, and when it finally looked like Hayward was going to be himself again another injury would happen.

The testament to Hayward’s ability to be an elite player is with his time with the Celtics. Coming from Utah as an All-Star and the first option and then becoming the afterthought of the offense in Boston and still remaining a crucial piece to the team. Bill Simmons puts it best here on his podcast:

"“And yet, there is the 25 percent chance that in the right situation you could totally see the comeback season… he really could fit into any situation with whoever was on the court, and didn’t necessarily need the ball to have an impact”"

Hayward is one of the best playmaking forwards in the league, averaging 4.1 assists per game and ranking 8th in assist per game for forwards* in the 19-20 season.

*If you list LeBron James at point guard

That’s where Ball comes in, LaMelo was capable of catch and shooting from three, and defenses will be leaving him wide open if he continues his current percentages. Which, may make the Hayward drive and kicks to a wide-open LaMelo an example of Hayward could help LaMelo be a productive player off the ball.

That thing that should excite you most, is the potential for the “Showtime Hornets”. Hayward and Tatum had real chemistry in the full-court, Hayward gave Tatum passes right on the money more often than not, if you didn’t know LaMelo Ball is at his best in the full-court.

Ball has an uncanny and jazz-like improvisational skill in the full-court and pairing that with Hayward (who is pretty damn good in the full-court as well) could make the Hornets the League Pass team this season, something Charlotte hasn’t been able to say, well ever.

It’s not a perfect fit, and that’s a given because LaMelo is such a unique and oddly fitting jigsaw piece no matter who he plays with. But, can LaMelo help Hayward become an All-Star again? and is there a comparable situation in the NBA? Or do we have to look back at the NBL to see how they’d play together?