The Charlotte Hornets have been without Gordon Hayward for quite some time. Since injuring his left ankle on February 7, the Swarm have gone 11-10 overall. Winners of seven of their last nine, they have been playing much better basketball since mid-March, but one question remains. Is Hayward returning for the playoffs?
There have been shockingly little updates about the former All-Star’s status. While he is continually ruled out a day in advance of every game, there was originally hope that he would return for a playoff push.
Now that there are a handful of games remaining in the regular season, one has to wonder if he will return at all this season, let alone for a playoff push. Although the Swarm have recently adapted and have started winning games, it took quite a while for them to figure out a winning rotation without Hayward in the lineup.
Despite having recent success, there is no doubt that the Hornets are missing their veteran small forward on a nightly basis. He may still be on the sidelines, but there is a big difference when a veteran, playoff-experienced player steps onto the court. That type of player is crucial for a young, playoff-hopeful team; he can dictate games with just his presence on the court.
For now, the Swarm will continue dragging out the successful lineup of LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges, P.J. Washington, and Mason Plumlee. This crew has been winning ball games, but it leaves the bench with a noticeable hole. Having Washington start in Hayward’s place completely shifts around the nightly rotation.
If / when Hayward returns, things can go back to a more traditional brand of Hornets basketball. With Hayward healthy, Washington can transition back to the backup power forward and center role and create more opportunities for Bridges to play at power forward. Once that happens, the Swarm can compete with any team in the league on any given night. All they need now is for Hayward to make his return as soon as possible.