NBA Power Rankings: Preview the Los Angeles Lakers and the rest

Dearly Departed: Dwayne Bacon, Nicolas Batum, Willy Hernangomez

New Additions: Gordon Hayward, LaMelo Ball, Vernon Carey, Grant Riller

Win Projection/Prediction: 26.5/Over

For a team in the midst of a race for the lower end of the play-in games, the Charlotte Hornets were quite active. They clearly got better but the cost to do so was steep and ultimately confusing. Unless you are a big Gordon Hayward fan.

Hayward got a massive contract after surprisingly opting out of his player option with the Boston Celtics. In need of a change of scenery, Hayward found one in an unexpected place. The Hornets had signed him to a max offer sheet in 2014 so their interest was well documented. His desire to go there is somewhat more confusing.

Charlotte also drafted the player with the most star power in this class, LaMelo Ball. If you can get beyond the family name, Ball is a transcendent passer and is already showcasing that. His teammates will be better having him on the roster and there is enough shooting around him to mitigate his current deficiencies in that regard.

Ultimately, this team seems likely to finish 10th and be a warm-up for the eventual seven seed. Effectively paying Gordon Hayward over $37 million per season (counting in the dead cap hit from waiving Nicolas Batum) seems like a disaster for a team likely to finish around or under .500. There is young talent here. Devonte’ Graham and P.J. Washington should be really good with better teammates and another years’ experience. They are just not good enough in a better Eastern Conference.