No More Hornets In The NBA?

"NBA commissioner David Stern admitted to ESPN's Bill Simmons during Tuesday's podcast that some owners would have no problem if the New Orleans Hornets were disbanded, however it is still the goal of the league to sell the team to someone who can keep it in Louisiana."

Of the 4 major sports (NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB) I think only the NFL has less reason to "disband" any teams. I guess I wouldn't be against it, because teams would get better, but most NBA teams do have at least a couple of really good players, and are a high draft pick away from turning it around.

I would hate to see New Orleans lose their team. I just feel like that city will support whatever professional team is in the area. I mean it's just another excuse to throw a parade and not go to work, so that seems to be right up New Orleans ally. If they were to move I think the only place that makes any sense is Seattle, because they should've never lost the Sonics in the first place, but the places ESPN list are Las Vegas (kinda cool), Anaheim (No), Vancouver (hell no).

Hornets @ Celtics Preview

The Celtics are going to have to get used to life without Garnett for at least 2 weeks, and they might have to play tonight without Rondo again as well. There is no word yet if Rondo will play, so it is kind of hard to predict this game.

The good news for the Celtics is that the Hornets have really started to fall apart. They have lost each of their last two games (Lakers/Timberwolves), and are only 4-6 in their last 10 games. The Hornets are also only 5-10 on the road.

Since the beginning of 2008-09, the Celtics are 112-44 (.718) with Garnett and 24-14 (.632) without him during the regular season. So, as much as it does affect them they are still a good team without their defensive captain.

With the Hornets losing the last 3 times they have come to Boston by at least 10 points I have to say that trend continues tonight.

Celtics win 92-81
Tommy Award: Big Baby
Game starts at 3pm on Comcast

A Bunch Of Teams Make Deals In The NBA

The New Orleans Hornets acquired Trevor Ariza(notes) Wednesday in a four-team, five-player trade that also sends point guard Darren Collison(notes) to the Indiana Pacers, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The deal also sends Pacers forward Troy Murphy(notes) to the New Jersey Nets and Nets guard Courtney Lee(notes) to the Houston Rockets. In addition to landing Collison – the young point guard they’ve been searching for all offseason – the Pacers also have to take on forward James Posey(notes), who has two years and $13.5 million remaining on his contract.

Ok for you stupid perople:
Houston Rockets
Coming: Courtney Lee
Going: Trevor Ariza

New Orleans Hornets
Coming: Trevor Ariza
Going: Darren Collison and James Posey

Indiana Pacers
Coming: Darren Collison and James Posey
Going: Troy Murphy


New Jersey Nets
Coming: Troy Murphy
Going: Courtney Lee

I don't get this deal for New Orleans or New Jersey but I think the Rockets and Pacers got off like bandits. Darren Collison averaged 12 points and 6 assists his rookie season in New Orleans and was the best player traded in this deal. It seems they were so eager to trade Posey's contract that they undersold Collison as part of a salary dump. They need to realize that as soon as Chris Paul's contract is up, he is skipping town and they will be left with a big hole at the PG position. Meanwhile Posey and Ariza are interchangeable (even though Posey has been dreadful in NO). The Rockets get a young guard in Courtney Lee who can start or come off the bench.

What aggrivated me the most about this deal is why didn't the Celtics try and trade Sheed for any of these players. Ariza, Lee, Posey/Collison would have all been great additions to the team. There is also a possibility that Posey gets waived and comes back home.

Chris Paul "wants" to Stay In NO

After Chris Paul met with the Owner and President of the Hornets he had this to say:
"The meeting went well. It was great to get an opportunity to sit down with coach Williams, [team] president [Hugh] Weber and our new general manager, Dell Demps," Paul's statement said. "I expressed my desire to win and I like what they said about the direction that they want to take the team. I have been a Hornet my entire career and I hope to represent the city of New Orleans and state of Louisiana for many years to come."

That's the biggest crock of BS I have ever heard in my life. This is exactly how the meeting went:

Chris Paul walks in

Chris: I want out

Hugh Weber: You're not going anywhere we aren't trading you, and this is what you're going to put on twitter so everyone in New Orleans doesn't hate you.

Chris: I want to be traded, seriously! Here are the teams I...

Hugh Weber: You're not going anywhere we aren't trading you, and this is what you're going to put on twitter so everyone in New Orleans doesn't hate you.

Hugh Weber: Why are you still in my office? Bye.

Chris Paul walks out with his head down

There are still rumors out there that CP3 still wants to be traded, but why the hell would New Orleans do that? Chris is just going to have to deal with it. This situation could get real ugly fast.

Chris Paul Demands Trade

According to a couple reports, Chris Paul is demanding he be traded before the start of the regular season. I have no idea if this is true or not, but my guess is that it is. Paul has been all about playing with another superstar since Lebron joined the Heat.

The question is...where is Paul go? There are 3 teams that Paul is rumored to want to play for (Lakers, Magic or Knicks). Out of those 3 the Magic seem the most likely to me (then the Knicks). I am not sure if the Knicks have the pieces to pull off a trade, but the Magic could. Earlier in the offseason the Magic were rumored to be kicking around a deal that would send Vince Carter to the Wizards for Gilbert Arenas. Maybe a similar deal can be worked out for Pual (maybe add picks and Jameer Nelson).

Anyways, at this point it is all rumors, but I do believe he will be dealt before the season starts, as reportedly members of Paul's camp have told people in the NBA that, "he's not going to start the season in New Orleans."

Chris Paul To be Traded?

The new hot rumor is that Chris Paul is going to be traded, and whoever gets him is also going to get LeBron. The New Jersey Nets already proposed Devin Harris and the number 4 overall pick for Paul.

I think for New Orleans it makes sense. Darren Collison proved to be just as good as Paul when he played. Chris Paul has also been injured consistently for the past 3 years. Chris Paul although over rated is a good young point guard and can totally help out a team in need. Although Monty Williams doesn't want Paul to be traded, the Hornets are in some serious cap trouble with the big contracts of Peja, Okafor, David West and James Posey. So it would be even better for the Hornets if they could ship off one of those guys along with Paul.

One more thing, if CP3 is traded, I hope he curses off New Orleans than dies in a plane crash on the way to his destination.

Die.

Hurricane Thibodeau Heading To New Orleans

The Hornets are looking for a new head coach and it looks as if Tom Thibodeau is going to be their man. The guy who got the Celtics focused on defense is going to be a giant loss if he leaves. Doc may be making the right calls during the game, but Thibs is the defensive mastermind behind it all.

This is all another reason why the Celtics need to win it this year, because they are going to need Thibs when it comes to Lakers (If we beat the Magic). He has changed the whole mindset (along with Doc Rivers) of the Boston Celtics and the Hornets got a steal with him being their guy. He also has been deserving of a head coaching job for years now and his name fits Louisiana so well too.

93 Hornets, 85 Celtics

Embarrassing. Flat out embarrassing.

This movie is getting real old. I'm getting really sick of them blowing huge leads and not playing in the second half. In the 3rd quarter the Celtics were outscored 29-12, shot 3-13 from the free throw line, and Pierce and Garnett were invisible.

I don't know what the problem is, but it really needs to be fixed. Rondo did nothing, Pierce and Garnett did nothing, The only people who seem to be trying are Tony Allen and Marquis Daniels. Maybe it's time to play JR Giddens and Billy Walker more because you know they will at least give it there all.

I don't really have much to say but this is not how I envisioned this team and the All Star break couldn't happen any sooner.

Chris Paul To Be Out A Month

Well it looks like Chris Paul will be out a month from arthroscopic surgery. This sucks because the Hornets really need him especially with them being a team on the brink. However, since I hate Chris Paul I'm loving it. I hate him just as much as Kobe and LeBron. But when it comes to those two or at least Kobe, I respect their game. I think Chris Paul is one of if not the most overrated player in the NBA. It's very good to put up stats on a bad team that picks and rolls every possession. I hate his face, I hate the way he plays, I hate the stupid Rick Flair woo they do every time he scores in New Orleans Arena, he's just a douche. The Hornets would be much better off trading him and rebuilding, then using him as the face of the franchise.

Hornets Fire Byron Scott

"The New Orleans Hornets have responded to their 3-6 start by making the first coaching change of the young NBA season, firing Byron Scott on Thursday, according to NBA coaching sources. Sources said the Hornets made the decision to dismiss Scott following New Orleans' 124-104 loss in Phoenix on Wednesday night and will formally announce the move later Thursday. It was not immediately known who will replace Scott (ESPN)."

It is amazing how fast things can change. Scott won NBA Coach of the Year honors in 2008 when he led the Hornets to a 56-26 record and the Southwest Division title. The Hornets then defeated Dallas in the first round of the playoffs and were within one win of the West finals before losing Game 7 at home to the San Antonio Spurs. Now he is out of work. I actually like this because for some reason I have always had a deep hatred for Byron Scott. The Hornets should be better then they are, but I think most of their problems have been caused by personnel decisions...

League Will Not Discipline Rondo or Paul

I don't think anyone expected they would...

"After taking on a life of its own, the Rajon Rondo-Chris Paul situation is officially squashed as far as the NBA is concerned. The NBA had said that it was reviewing the incident between the two star guards at the end of the Celtics win over the Hornets Sunday, but NBA spokesman Tim Frank said today that there would be "nothing further" on the situation (Boston.com)."

Good. I really don't want to hear anymore about this. My only concern now is that Rondo is becoming a little bit of a hot head. Rivers was very annoyed by this whole thing, and I just hope Rondo doesn't get out of control. I don't think he will be he does seems to be getting angrier every year.

97 Celtics, 87 Hornets

What a game. The Celtics actually played like shit and they were still able to beat a good Hornets team. Boston improved to 4-0 behind Paul Pierce's 27 points, Allen scored 17 points, Kevin Garnett had 14 and Rondo had 10 assists and six points for Boston, which pulled away with an 11-3 run in the last four minutes to turn an 86-83 lead into an 11-point runaway. The biggest underlying story was Rondo vs Chris Paul. If you noticed on the final play where Paul brought the ball up, Rondo and Paul were jawing at each other and that carried over to the end of the game when Paul pursued Rondo toward the Celtics' locker room and had to be blocked by Boston assistant coaches. I love that these two have became rivals and I'm glad that we got to witness it for the next 5 years. Paul may have won the head to head match-up last night, but I'll take the win over stats any day.

Top 25 Under 25: #6 Chris Paul

There is no doubt here. Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league and he's only 24. The way he plays and his impact on a team makes New Orleans an instant team to think about in the West. He is a great distributor, shooter and defender and that is pretty much the prototype you would want in a point guard. He has averaged 19 points, 10 assists, 2.4 steals a game and getting 5 rebounds a game in his 4 year career, and had 5 triple doubles last year. Him on any team, will be a play-off contender, and if Okafor works in New Orleans, then the Hornets will have a deep play-off run.

And here is a fun fact: Off the court, Paul is a notable ten-pin bowler and a sponsored spokesperson for the United States Bowling Congress (USBC). He has participated in numerous celebrity and youth events as the head of the CP3 Foundation to benefit programs in his native state and Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.

Chris Paul Is A little Mad With The Hornets

Chris Paul said the trade of Rasual Butler to the Los Angeles Clippers affected him because he and Butler shared a unique relationship.

"Oh, man, to tell you the truth, that hurt me," Paul told The Times-Picayune. "Rasual is my guy, somebody I'm really close to. Him and David West were the only two guys who've been on my team every year since I've been a rookie. But that kind of caught me off guard and hit close to home. He was my guy." ESPN

The last thing the Hornets need to do is piss Chris Paul off. He is the best point guard in the league and the Hornets only hope for making a championship. I didn't get the Butler trade either, however, he needs to realize that the NBA is a business and that the Hornets have terrible cap numbers. The Hornets got better with the addition of Emeka Okafor because he is a player that a finesse team like the Hornets desperately needed. I think this will eventually pass, but if I were the Hornets, I would be a little concerned figuring you heard a lot of grumblings out of the Chris Paul camp this summer.

Bobcats Trade Okafor to Hornets for Chandler

"The Charlotte Bobcats are finalizing a trade that would send Emeka Okafor to the New Orleans Hornets for Tyson Chandler, two people familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Monday. The swap of 26-year-old centers wasn't expected to be completed until Tuesday and was unlikely to include other players, the people said on condition of anonymity because an official announcement has not been made. The deal would be another roster shake up for the Bobcats since Larry Brown took over as coach last season, and is a gamble because Chandler has been plagued by a left toe injury and recently underwent surgery (Sportsline)."

I really like this trade for the Hornets. I know Okafor never became the guy he was supposed to be when he was taken with the #2 pick over in 2004, but he still puts up solid numbers (13.2 points and 10.1 rebounds for Charlotte last season). Larry Brown questioned his passion, but I think he is what he is. He plays solid defense and can give you 10-15 points a game. With the NBA the way it is you just need a solid big man that can rip down boards, and complement the offense.

The reason I like this deal better for the Hornets is because Okafor is much more durable. Chandler is taller, at 7-1, but averaged only 8.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in a year when he was traded twice. He also had offseason surgery on his toe, which is always a red flag for any big man.

Overall nice trade for the Hornets...

Pargo Back To Hornets?

The summation here is Jannero Pargo wants back with New Orleans as much as New Orleans wants him back.

"I'm just going to take it one day at a time and try to do what's best for me and my family," Pargo said. "If the situation is best for me to come back here (to the NBA), then I will.

"It was a wonderful experience. I got to go a lot of places, see a lot of different things. But I grew up dreaming of playing in the NBA. I definitely would love to get back in the NBA and continue my career." -- The Times-Picayune

The glearing weakness in the hornets this year was their lack of back up PG play. Everytime CP left the court the team sucked. They started off with Mike James, but he is a shoot first PG and didn't fit to well, then they got Antonio Daniels, who just flat out sucks. Pargo was the savior of the Hornets two years ago, and being down here, people love him. So New Orleans, if you think Jannero Pargo will bring the Hornets go for it. But I think you should take a look into a physical big man first.

107 Nuggets, 86 Hornets

Newsflash. The Hornets suck. My preseason western conference champs not only lost 4-1, but got horrifically embarrassed this whole series. Led by the so called "best" point guard in the league, the Hornets couldn't get past the first round. The Hornets were an up and down team all year, and I had high expectations going into the season, but after watching them all year. This team kinda sucked. Tyson Chandler is not the "defensive" player people say he is, Peja sucks and is washed up, and David West is very streaky. This should be an eye opener for the Hornets, and should try their hardest to move Chandler and Peja and get a dominant big man. It has been proven that a good guard and a banger underneath can win the championship. In my eyes the Hornets took a huge step back this year and I don't see a bright future ahead of them.

New Orleans Should Be Embarressed

Listen, I can deal with he political corruption and lack of productivity and progress in New Orleans. And Even our Mayor Ray Nagin and Police Chief playing around with guns, but last nights Hornets game was the the most embarrassing thing I have ever witnessed.


But are you kidding me, The Hornets' 121-63 loss to Denver tied for the most lopsided in NBA history, and it was humiliating from the get-go. The so called "best" point guard in the league wasn't able to rally his troops and try to stop the bleeding. And this is why the Hornets and Chris Paul are both overrated. The Hornets are screwed and until they commit to a banging PF/C they will always be a finesse team.

Lil Wayne Spazzes at Hornets Buzzer Beater

89 Hawks, 79 Hornets

Johnson scored 30 points and the Hawks beat New Orleans 89-79 on Monday night, ending the Hornets' season-best seven-game winning streak. This was expected to happen to the Hornets have been really hot of late. Since they got Chandler back in the almost trade, they have been playing like the team many of us thought they would. Yesterday, the Hawks just had their number. Despite a 20 rebound game by David West, and another double double by Chris Paul the Hawks proved to be just too much for the Hornets. I wouldn't put too much stock into this loss, the Hornets are going to be fine.