2011 NBA Offseason: New Orleans Hornets
Draft Grades, Offseason Needs, Free Agents
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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New Orleans Hornets (Last Year: 46-36)
Live 2011 NBA Draft Grades:
2011 NBA Draft Team Grade:
Money means more than a player who can possibly make the roster. I guess that was the Hornets' thought process. Boring draft for them. (Team Grade: Don't Get It)
45. Josh Harrellson, C, Kentucky (TRADED TO NEW YORK)
The Hornets are a franchise that could use money, so selling the pick makes sense, I guess. They could also use depth at just about every position so why not take a gamble on a Josh Selby or Travis Leslie, and hope either can make the roster? (Pick Grade: Don't Get It)
*** 2011 NBA Offseason Needs and Free Agents listed below this comment box. ***
2010-11 Season Summary:
Chris Paul gets healthy and the Hornets return to the postseason. Is it really that simple? Pretty much. A year ago, Paul missed 37 games due to injury and New Orleans missed the playoffs. This season, Paul was healthy and was back to lead the charge into the playoffs.
Their trip to the postseason did not last long though as the Hornets lost their opening-round battle with the Lakers in six games. A big reason for their first-round boot was due to the absence of leading scorer, David West, who suffered a torn ACL late in the season and left New Orleans short-handed.
Outside of that, there was nothing to really get too excited about with this team. Emeka Okafor was his typical solid, but unspectacular self, while newly acquired Trevor Ariza brought a slight upgrade to the small forward position. Marco Belinelli posted the best numbers of his career which really is not saying all that much.
First-year general manager Dell Demps was also active during the season, making a couple of questionable deals. He dealt the team's 2011 first-round pick to Portland for Jerryd Bayless, but then turned around and dealt Bayless and Peja Stojakovic's expiring contract to Toronto for Jarrett Jack, David Andersen and Marcus Banks, which really did not help the team that much. Acquiring Carl Landry from Sacramento for Marcus Thornton proved to be a blessing in disguise as Landry was able to step into the starting lineup for the injured West late in the season.
2011-12 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Emeka Okafor/Chris Kaman
PF: Carl Landry/Jason Smith
SF: Trevor Ariza/Quincy Pondexter/Al-Farouq Aminu/Patrick Ewing Jr.
SG: Eric Gordon/Marco Belinelli/Trey Johnson/Terrico White
PG: Jarrett Jack
NBA Free Agents:
SG-Willie Green (UFA)
PG-Marcus Banks (UFA)
C-D.J. Mbenga (UFA)
NBA Free Agents:
Hornets trade 45th pick (Josh Harrellson) to Knicks for cash considerations
PF David West opts out of final year of contract, becomes free agent
C Aaron Gray opts out of final year of contract, becomes free agent
C David Andersen signs with Italian team Montepaschi Siena
Hornets acquire SG Eric Gordon, C Chris Kaman, and SF Al-Farouq Aminu, and 2012 first round pick from Clippers for PG Chris Paul
Hornets sign PF Carl Landry to one-year, $9 million contract
Hornets sign PF Jason Smith to 3-year, $7.5 million contract
2011-12 Team Salary: Approximately $55.6 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Shop Chris Paul: Let's be honest, as much as Chris Paul may love New Orleans, why would he re-sign a long-term deal with a team that is not going to win a championship anytime soon? Paul will rather di the trendy thing in the NBA and join a super power with someone (Dwight Howard?) in a major market. The Hornets are in a situation where they either keep him and hope he inks an extension, keep him and risk losing him next summer while getting nothing in return, or do what I think they should - jump the gun and get some quality value for him prior to the trade deadline, much like what the Nuggets did with Carmelo Anthony this past February.
2. What to do with West?: David West's injury did two things: severely damaged his potential value as a free agent this summer and also likely cost him a good chunk of the beginning of next season. If I am West, I am picking up the player option on the final year of my deal. If I am the Hornets, I am waiting to offer him an extension until I see how the knee heels. However, I cannot imagine West signing an extension with New Orleans unless he knows for sure Chris Paul will be back. Whatever ends up happening with West, the Hornets will need to add some depth at power forward since Carl Landry is a free agent and Jason Smith is a restricted free agent.
3. Shooting Guard: Even though Marco Belinelli had a career year this past season, he is a restricted free agent and I am not sure the starting shooting guard of the future in New Orleans. Even if he does return to the Hornets, the team will need some depth at the two since they traded away Marcus Thornton, and Willie Green is an unrestricted free agent. Jarrett Jack is capable of playing off guard alongside Chris Paul, but depth is still needed.
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 21
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
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© 1999-2011 Walter Cherepinsky : all rights reserved
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All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
New Orleans Hornets (Last Year: 46-36)
Live 2011 NBA Draft Grades:
2011 NBA Draft Team Grade:
Money means more than a player who can possibly make the roster. I guess that was the Hornets' thought process. Boring draft for them. (Team Grade: Don't Get It)
45. Josh Harrellson, C, Kentucky (TRADED TO NEW YORK)
The Hornets are a franchise that could use money, so selling the pick makes sense, I guess. They could also use depth at just about every position so why not take a gamble on a Josh Selby or Travis Leslie, and hope either can make the roster? (Pick Grade: Don't Get It)
*** 2011 NBA Offseason Needs and Free Agents listed below this comment box. ***
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Me
02-14-2013
07:45 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx9.90
(total posts: 3)
 7
 7
Say wha?
Me
02-14-2013
07:41 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx9.90
(total posts: 3)
29
7
Miller an A?
Me
02-14-2013
07:41 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx9.90
(total posts: 3)
7
7
Miller an A?
xxxxx
07-26-2012
01:27 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.168
(total posts: 1)
9
9
well after all the signings the hornets r a playoff contender
Unlikely
07-04-2012
12:31 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.216
(total posts: 2)
10
11
Well what do you know, Eric Gordon is no longer with the Hornets. It's almost like they drafted Austin Rivers expecting Gordon to leave.
/pokerface
Unlikely
06-29-2012
05:45 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.216
(total posts: 2)
13
101
The Rivers pick makes me think that Eric Gordon isn't in the Hornets future plans. Rivers is the definition of a pure shooting guard and trying to have both him and Gordon on the court at the same time would be a recipe for failure.
Alvin
05-31-2012
12:15 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.107
(total posts: 1)
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12
I think we just solved a lot of the above issues, getting the #1 pick in the draft!! There is your upgrade at PF, although I wish they could still bring back Carl Landry. I like the amnesty of Okafor, but we need to resign Kaman, or bring in a legit big.
Geiger
05-12-2012
03:48 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.234
(total posts: 1)
24
19
I really hope the Hornets are able to come back strong and healthy next year. I think the perfect draft for them would be Robinson and a point guard could be in play. I think Lamb also would be a good addition due to his versatility and scoring ability.
Hmmm
05-12-2012
09:03 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.108
(total posts: 1)
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29
Am I the only one who thinks naming the team "Spirit" sounds kinda gay?
Regan
05-11-2012
10:00 am
xxx.xxx.xxx6.42
(total posts: 1)
25
23
Nah, Amnestying Okafor doesn't have much purpose. He's owed a little less than 28 million over the next two years. But what else are they going to do with that capspace. That's what people forget about when talking amnesty situations, if there's no way to go out and spend 14 million a year on a better player, what's the purpose of amnestying. Besides, Okafor has a market somewhere. You think Miami wouldn't give up a package comprised of picks/expirings/Norris Cole or Chalmers?
Better than spending 14 million a year to free him off the cap and play for another team.
Walter
06-21-2011
05:12 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx4.88
(total posts: 1)
37
38
First comment... we're going to have comment boards like this all over the site soon. We're still working out the kinks, so this is not the finished product.
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2010-11 Season Summary:
Chris Paul gets healthy and the Hornets return to the postseason. Is it really that simple? Pretty much. A year ago, Paul missed 37 games due to injury and New Orleans missed the playoffs. This season, Paul was healthy and was back to lead the charge into the playoffs.
Their trip to the postseason did not last long though as the Hornets lost their opening-round battle with the Lakers in six games. A big reason for their first-round boot was due to the absence of leading scorer, David West, who suffered a torn ACL late in the season and left New Orleans short-handed.
Outside of that, there was nothing to really get too excited about with this team. Emeka Okafor was his typical solid, but unspectacular self, while newly acquired Trevor Ariza brought a slight upgrade to the small forward position. Marco Belinelli posted the best numbers of his career which really is not saying all that much.
First-year general manager Dell Demps was also active during the season, making a couple of questionable deals. He dealt the team's 2011 first-round pick to Portland for Jerryd Bayless, but then turned around and dealt Bayless and Peja Stojakovic's expiring contract to Toronto for Jarrett Jack, David Andersen and Marcus Banks, which really did not help the team that much. Acquiring Carl Landry from Sacramento for Marcus Thornton proved to be a blessing in disguise as Landry was able to step into the starting lineup for the injured West late in the season.
2011-12 Projected Depth Chart:
C: Emeka Okafor/Chris Kaman
PF: Carl Landry/Jason Smith
SF: Trevor Ariza/Quincy Pondexter/Al-Farouq Aminu/Patrick Ewing Jr.
SG: Eric Gordon/Marco Belinelli/Trey Johnson/Terrico White
PG: Jarrett Jack
NBA Free Agents:
SG-Willie Green (UFA)
PG-Marcus Banks (UFA)
C-D.J. Mbenga (UFA)
NBA Free Agents:
Hornets trade 45th pick (Josh Harrellson) to Knicks for cash considerations
PF David West opts out of final year of contract, becomes free agent
C Aaron Gray opts out of final year of contract, becomes free agent
C David Andersen signs with Italian team Montepaschi Siena
Hornets acquire SG Eric Gordon, C Chris Kaman, and SF Al-Farouq Aminu, and 2012 first round pick from Clippers for PG Chris Paul
Hornets sign PF Carl Landry to one-year, $9 million contract
Hornets sign PF Jason Smith to 3-year, $7.5 million contract
2011-12 Team Salary: Approximately $55.6 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Shop Chris Paul: Let's be honest, as much as Chris Paul may love New Orleans, why would he re-sign a long-term deal with a team that is not going to win a championship anytime soon? Paul will rather di the trendy thing in the NBA and join a super power with someone (Dwight Howard?) in a major market. The Hornets are in a situation where they either keep him and hope he inks an extension, keep him and risk losing him next summer while getting nothing in return, or do what I think they should - jump the gun and get some quality value for him prior to the trade deadline, much like what the Nuggets did with Carmelo Anthony this past February.
2. What to do with West?: David West's injury did two things: severely damaged his potential value as a free agent this summer and also likely cost him a good chunk of the beginning of next season. If I am West, I am picking up the player option on the final year of my deal. If I am the Hornets, I am waiting to offer him an extension until I see how the knee heels. However, I cannot imagine West signing an extension with New Orleans unless he knows for sure Chris Paul will be back. Whatever ends up happening with West, the Hornets will need to add some depth at power forward since Carl Landry is a free agent and Jason Smith is a restricted free agent.
3. Shooting Guard: Even though Marco Belinelli had a career year this past season, he is a restricted free agent and I am not sure the starting shooting guard of the future in New Orleans. Even if he does return to the Hornets, the team will need some depth at the two since they traded away Marcus Thornton, and Willie Green is an unrestricted free agent. Jarrett Jack is capable of playing off guard alongside Chris Paul, but depth is still needed.
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 21
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 3
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
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