The Hornets Have Embraced LaMelo Ball

CHARLOTTE – To remember a time when the Charlotte Hornets were good you have to go back to the early aughts, when the Paul Silas-coached, Baron Davis-led Buzz won 46-plus games and made it to back-to-back conference semifinals.

To remember a time when they were entertaining, you would have to be thinking of another team.

The Hornets are pretty good—not great, good—with a 13-15 record that’s strong enough to keep them in the playoff mix. There are several reasons why. Gordon Hayward is living up to the four-year, $120 million contract Charlotte lavished on him last offseason, averaging 22.3 points while knocking down 42.2% of his three’s. Terry Rozier (20.6 points) has been excellent. Malik…