[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Suprise (-_-) The Hornets won the lottery. Regardless of if you’re a conspiracy theorist or not, the Hornets are about to get the best player in this draft. 

There are varying opinions on what type of player Anthony Davis will become, but there’s no doubt he’s the top pick. He has work to do on his body and low post offensive skills, but he looks like he’ll be a defensive anchor who’ll develop into a good offensive player as well. Does he have superstar potential? I think he does. After losing Chris Paul and having a depressing season, the future is a lot brighter. Monty Williams will love adding Davis to a team that was already ranked 8th in the NBA defensively (points allowed).

They also have the 10th  pick. Who should they draft? Jarrett Jack is the starter at point guard and Greivis Vasquez is his backup, so clearly that’s a spot that needs help. Damian Lillard looks like he could be a good fit. Would Kendall Marshall, a pass first guy, be too high of a reach at 10? Or should they just draft the best player available? They could also package the pick along with one of their veterans and trade it. They’d like to package Emeka Okafor and his near $28 million with it, but that’s not going to happen. Trevor Ariza is a more likely candidate, who’s owed almost $15 million over the next two years. The Hornets will also have plenty of cap space, so they could also pick up a point guard via free-agency.

Eric Gordon is #1 priority heading into the off-season. It’s probably déjà vu for him all over again, but you have to think that he’s a lot more optimistic about signing with the Hornets long term than he was a couple of days ago. With Davis and Gordon, one of the top young shooting guards in the NBA, you have your two young building blocks in place.

Next, you have to look at the team’s main free-agents. Chris Kaman, Carl Landry and Marco Belinelli. Should any of them be re-signed?

As of right now, it looks like the Hornets have Anthony Davis, Eric Gordon, Emeka Okafor, Trevor Ariza, Jarret Jack, Al-Farouq Aminu, Jason Smith, Xavier Henry, Gustavo Ayon, Greivis Vasquez, Lance Thomas, Darryl Watkins and Jerome Dyson.

What moves should they make heading into next season?

 

[MKG_AllDayParticipant]

 And don’t forget they have another top 10 in which they can try to attempt to get Kendall Marshall and then their line up will be packed

 

[MKG_AllDayParticipant]

 Also I think with them getting Anthony Davis that can convince Eric Gordon to stay

 

[HitsterParticipant]

I wonder if they might look at one of the veteran FA PG’s who may be on the market having one of them alongside Gordon would be good for him and they could help feed Davis some easy baskets. The guy who sprang to mind was Andre Miller or even Chauncy Billups. Andre is a pass first guy who always seems to be a good presence on all his teams and Billups already has a title so may not look to chase another one and his leadership would be good for a young team.

[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

Just hope they can convince Chris Kaman to stay in Nawleans. A blend of Kaman and Davis as a frontcourt sounds good on paper. They can let Landry walk while Gustavo Ayon can come off the bench considering Davis starts at PF. Perhaps re-sign Marco Bellinelli to a small contract if he doesn’t test FA waters and make the best out the 2013 season.

Jack/Vasquez

Gordon/Bellinelli

Ariza/Aminu

Davis/Ayon

Kaman/Okafor/Smith

With Monty Williams’ guidance, this team can make a run for that 8th seed.

 

[MKG_AllDayParticipant]

^ That would be great games to watch. Both teams Front Court are great and there back court needs a little tweeking but great matchup to see in future years.

[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

I think Ander Miller wants to stay in Denver, but he or Billups would definitely be a great upgrade over Jack, moreso Billups. He doesn’t demand the ball which would give Eric Gordon more flexibility to create shots and that gives the team that extra shooting threat on the floor.

[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

If the Hornets continue to build, build and build around the necleus they already have…

Just imagine a Jazz/Hornets rivalry in 4-5 years…

[lisergxParticipant]

 Favors vs. Davis damn!!

[HotSnotParticipant]

The Hornets could also trade up from the 10 spot to the 5-8 range if they see another player they really like. Perhaps something like Aminu and the 10th to get the the Warriors 7 and one of their second round picks? Warriors were looking for a SF.

[B-ball fanParticipant]

 I don’t think they should sign Kaman or Landry.  Kaman won’t be worth the salary he will command and Landry isn’t really needed.  The already have a couple of not great contracts in Okafor and Ariza, so they shouldn’t overpay Kaman or Landry.  

I think trading the 10th pick could be a good idea.  They don’t need a project with the pick and I think they would rather a more proven bet at pg, maybe Dragic if they can sign him.

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

Among the other comments Monty Williams made a little over a week ago was one he was not enamored with the point guard class and referred to the group as having guys who could be backups. I am not enamored by Damian Lillard either, and when looking at the lack of offensive firepower on that team do not think Kendall Marshall would really be a good fit either. It would not surprise me if they went for two big men. I don’t think a team is looking at Damian Lillard and think he is going to be better than Jarrett Jack, and they have another year with Jack before reassessing next summer when they’ll be in the lottery again.

 http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2012/05/new_orleans_hornets_taking_a_r.html

As for their roster, they are not going to be good next year. I like Monty Williams and really respect the way in which he got a roster of mostly fringe guys to battle and work, but there is no celebration for being better than the Bobcats and Wizards. Plus, the most of the talent on the roster is headed for free agency. They could retain Gordon, Belinelli, Kaman, and/or Landry, but nothing is a guarantee. Eric Gordon isn’t going to want to be there. If he did, he would have signed that bloated 4 year $50 million deal NO put forth after the trade. If they can find a sign-and-trade where they get a pick next year and another young player who will be under the rookie scale for a bit longer they might want to go for it. Belinelli is a nice shooter who has value if you can get him at the right price (at the price for a guy who does one thing well not at the price of he averaged 12 PPG last year). Kaman is a 7-footer who isn’t awful, so even he will likely cost a bit if New Orleans can lure him back. With the team drafting Davis, still having Okafor, and picking up Ayon’s option, I am not sure that Landry would even get an offer.

[HaleParticipant]

I’d take Marshall at 10 if he’s there. He can get easy buckets for Davis and that will be an awesome combo to watch as well as him setting up Gordon. That’d be a great young core with those three guys.

[HitsterParticipant]

I’d assume that NOH would probably not look to retain either Landry or Kaman in order to preserve salary space going forward. If we assume it is a given they will take Davis then he will assume most of Kaman’s minutes indirectly and if Okafor being hard to trade then you have your frontcourt starting duo. Both Smith and Ayon are still on nice rookie deals so can provide bench back up and if we assume they look to resign Belinelli and Gordon then this will take up cap space.

With Ariza and Aminu vying for SF minutes, the key to the rosters balance could be what they do with the 2nd first round pick as this may well be reflected on whether Gordon is likely to stay or not. If he stays then they would likely look for a PG or maybe an SF with that pick but if he is likely to leave then I could see them looking more for an SG/SF to play around Belinelli and Ariza with Aminu being able to fill in at SF/PF.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

If they can find a sign-and-trade where they get a pick next year and another young player who will be under the rookie scale for a bit longer they might want to go for it.

The Hornets seem intent on bringing Gordon back and matching any offer he gets, but I think this may be the best idea. He doesn’t really want to be there and based on what I’ve been hearing, wants to be closer to the midwest.

[Author]

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