The way Hornets fans talk about this guy, you would think he was averaging 3 points per game on 5 percent shooting with 1 assist and 7 turnovers per game (coincidentally, very close to the numbers I would average were I placed in an NBA game, except I wouldn’t score or get assists). While playing all 48 minutes.
The truth of the matter is that he is scoring a totally respectable 18 points per game this season. That’s legit. 18 points is legit. Now, once you actually sit down and watch a Hornets game (something I do more often than I want since they’re often one of the first games on so I can watch without worry about having to make highlights yet), it’s clear that he’s almost unwatchably unenjoyable. So I understand where Hornets fans are coming from, since they’re the ones cursed to watch him every game (and I mean every game, he hasn’t missed one yet and has started them all). I just think that their griping could be redirected slightly. It’s not like he’s the only un-fun player on the roster. What about Michael Kidd-Gilchrist? I never hear anything about him anymore, good or bad.
If Hornets fans aren’t going to appreciate him, I know a fanbase that will: the Boston Celtics. Okay, maybe they won’t appreciate him very much, but he did have that good playoff series that one time so there are at least a scand amount of positive feelings there. Here’s the trade scenario I whipped up literally five seconds go after thinking for double that: Terry Rozier and some picks or something for Gordon Hayward. Remember, Hayward almost went to Charlotte in the first place, so this makes total sense. Also the Bucks will throw in Thon Maker, because I found a secret clause in the NBA that says that a third team in a deal doesn’t have to trade their player to either of the other teams if they don’t want, the player just blips out of existence as soon as the trade goes through.