Hornets' Gordon Hayward Signing Driven By Need For Star Power

The Hornets "need stars," which is why they made F Gordon Hayward the "biggest free-agent signing for the franchise since at least 2013, when the then-Bobcats added center Al Jefferson," according to Rick Bonnell of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER (11/22). THE ATHLETIC's David Aldridge wrote of the Hornets signing Hayward, "Of course, it’s an overpay. ... But people act like players and agents are lining up to come to Charlotte. They are not." THE ATHLETIC's Joe Vardon wrote Hornets Owner Michael Jordan is "tired of losing." He "watched his own doc at the outset of the pandemic, and was like, 'Winning is dope.'" THE ATHLETIC's Sam Amick: "You could tell that MJ and Hornets GM Mitch Kupchak were getting itchy for a splashy/risky/expensive move when the rumors spread about their possible involvement in a Russell Westbrook trade" (THEATHLETIC.com, 11/21). The Hayward deal comes on the heels of the Hornets drafting LaMelo Ball No. 3 overall last week in the NBA Draft (THE DAILY).