A New Start {NEW ORLEANS HORNETS}2K12

[K0ZZ]

Toronto Raptors win top pick

After a season of futility and a lot of lows with the lone bright spot being Andrea Barigani being named to the All NBA top squad, the Raptors are rewarded with a number one pick in the draft. The central division has four picks in the top fourteen. The Pacers have two picks, two and nine. The Milwaukee Bucks find themselves at three and the Cavaliers are at sixth. No team made a huge climb or beat the odds, with most of it going status quo.

Draft Lottery
1) Toronto Raptors
2) Indiana Pacers
3) Milwaukee Bucks
4) Minnesota Timberwolves
5) Philadelphia 76ers
6) Cleveland Cavaliers
7) Sacramento Kings
8) Washington Wizards
9) Indiana Pacers
10) Houston Rockets
11) New Orleans Hornets
12) Phoenix Suns
13) Denver Nuggets
14) Golden State Warriors

[K0ZZ]

Match not made in heaven?

Chris Paul has declined his player option his contract extension following his trade to the Clippers. A shocking developing considering what they had given up in order to get the start point guard to land in Los Angeles and bring some pride to the Clippers. He may just be working to restructure his contract or he may be looking for a new team this offseason.

This will be a continuing development, despite numerous requests for interviews, Paul has denied all interviews.

[K0ZZ]

Harrison Barnes is the #1 Pick

NBA Draft - Round 1 Recap
Pick	Team	Player	Pos	Ht	Wt
1	Toronto Raptors	Harrison Barnes	SF	6'8	223
2	Indiana Pacers	Andre Drummond	C	6'10	270
3	Milwaukee Bucks	Jeremy Lamb	SG	6'5	185
4	New Orleans Hornets	Anthony Davis	PF	6'10	220
5	Philadelphia 76ers	Jared Sullinger	PF	6'10	281
6	Cleveland Cavaliers	Brad Beal	SG	6'4	207
7	Sacramento Kings	James McAdoo	SF	6'9	226
8	Washington Wizards	Perry Jones	SF	6'11	235
9	Indiana Pacers	Meyers Leonard	C	7'0	245
10	Houston Rockets	Thomas Robinson	SF	6'8	240
11	Minnesota Timberwolves	Terrence Ross	SG	6'6	197
12	Memphis Grizzlies	Austin Rivers	SG	6'4	203
13	Denver Nuggets	Christian Watford	PF	6'8	215
14	Golden State Warriors	Michael Kidd-Gilchrist	SF	6'6	216
15	New Orleans Hornets	Seth Curry	PG	6'2	170
16	Los Angeles Lakers	Jordan Taylor	PG	6'1	195
17	Memphis Grizzlies	Tim Hardaway Jr	SG	6'5	185
18	Utah Jazz	Myck Kabongo	PG	6'1	169
19	Charlotte Bobcats	Terrence Jones	SF	6'9	244
20	Orlando Magic	Tyshawn Taylor	PG	6'3	185
21	San Antonio Spurs	Yancy Gates	PF	6'9	260
22	Los Angeles Clippers	Doron Lamb	SG	6'4	200
23	Milwaukee Bucks	William Buford	SG	6'5	190
24	New York Knicks	Alex Young	SG	6'6	200
25	Atlanta Hawks	Robbie Hummel	SF	6'8	215
26	New Orleans Hornets	John Henson	PF	6'10	220
27	Milwaukee Bucks	John Jenkins	SG	6'4	205
28	Dallas Mavericks	Tu Holloway	PG	6'0	185
29	Miami Heat	Marquis Teague	PG	6'2	190
30	Portland Trailblazers	Kendall Marshall	PG	6'4	197

New Orleans Hornets Draft
Pick	Player	College	Pos	Ht	Wt
4	Anthony Davis	Kentucky	PF	6'10	220
15	Seth Curry	Duke	PG	6'2	170
26	John Henson	North Carolina	PF	6'10	220

The Hornets were hoping to land Andre Drummond and without help from the draft lotto, they would move up to the fourth slot, trading with the Timberwolves who would also take Mike Dunleavy Jr and Mo Williams (and his huge contract) and two first round picks for their #4 selection. Yet things wouldn't work out as the Pacers who traded Roy Hibbert would land Andre Drummond. The Hornets opted for Anthony Davis who will either be moved to Center or Gustavo Ayon will be. Greg Oden didn't have his option picked up and was allowed into free agency, as was Omer Asik.

The Hornets would find a future point guard in the chance that Brandon Jennings leaves with Seth Curry. Curry has a great outside shot and will learn to distribute the ball better playing for the team that led the NBA in assists. As the Hornets awaited their second round pick, the Celtics called up with a trade offer, their 26th pick and next years first round pick for the Hornets secound round pick and Wesley Matthews and with that, the trigger was pulled, landing John Henson, a terrific re bounder and defensive player in the post, adding more depth for the Power Forward and Center positions.

Their moves allowed for the maximum amount of cap space they could handle while keeping four of their five starters, the bench may change in a big way, but the Hornets retained the core for the most part and will slide a rookie into a starting spot for another season, with their talent from this rookie class, it's a very good thing.

[K0ZZ]

New Orleans 2012 Roster
#	NAME	POS	AGE	HT	WT	SALARY
3	Brandon Jennings	PG	22	6'1	169	3.18M
30	Seth Curry	PG	22	6'2	170	1.41M
2	Jarrett Jack	PG	28	6'3	197	5.58M
10	Eric Gordon	SG	23	6'3	215	9.54M
34	Malcolm Lee	SG	22	6'5	200	3.07M
32	Jake Robinson	SG	24	6'1	185	520K
21	Thaddeus Young	SF	24	6'8	220	8.04M
5	Martell Webster	SF	25	6'7	235	3.29M
11	Metta World Peace	SF	32	6'7	260	2.09M
22	Dajuan Summers	SF	24	6'8	240	861K
15	Gustavo Ayon	PF	27	6'10	250	3.36M
14	John Henson	PF	21	6'10	220	895K
23	Anthony Davis	C	20	6'10	220	2.9M
6	Ben Wallace	C	37	6'9	240	767K
31	Darko Milicic	C	27	7'0	275	5.23M

New Orleans Hornets Depth Chart - 2012
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
PG	Brandon Jennings	Seth Curry	Jarrett Jack
SG	Eric Gordon	Malcolm Lee	Jake Robinson
SF	Thaddeus Young	Martell Webster	Metta World Peace	Dajuan Summers
PF	Gustavo Ayon	John Henson	Ben Wallace
C	Anthony Davis	Ben Wallace	Darko Milicic

The Hornets took a bid out on Chris Paul who decided to leave the Clippers after just a year and people around the NBA were scheming a background ploy to reunite Chris Paul with New Orleans but that was quickly quieted when the Cleveland Cavaliers made a shockwave deal that brought Paul to Cleveland. With reigning rookie of the year, Kyrie Irving moving to the two guard spot, and first round pick Brandon Beal will back him up as the Cavaliers suddenly start looking really scary with a great young guard rotation.

Malcolm Lee slipped off the radar thanks to him being a defensive two guard, but with his youth and ability to grow, the Hornets leapt on the opportunity to bring in a young back up to Eric Gordon and he could still grow. Lee is insanely athletic and will bring a good option as a back up and will make up for the loss of Wesley Matthews. Jake Robinson will continue to be the quick fire target from the corners and should get a little more playing time.

Martell Webster and Metta World Peace both signed giving forward depth that the Hornets will cling too, especially if Thaddeus Young goes through injury issues like he did last season in the time he joined the Hornets. Dajuan Summers rejoins the Hornets after spending last season on a D-League roster having used up all of his eligibility for the D-League.

Gustavo Ayon and John Henson will be the main pair at the power forward position. They have similar builds where as Henson will be seen as more of a defensive force and Ayon will be the offensive power forward. Henson is also slightly more athletic than Ayon but isn't nearly as good in the scoring side of things.

Anthony Davis is the clear starter at Center especially after being the fourth pick in the draft. He isn't Andre Drummond but he has great shooting ability. His post game isn't as strong but it will develop with time. Ben Wallace is a defensive genius and will likely be eying retirement towards the end of this season or next year. Darko Milicic was brought over in the trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves to clear up a little bit of cap room.

[lilbman]

I'm definitely reading. I actually thought of making a Hornets association myself.

[jwill_23]

great job with your dynasty

[K0ZZ]

This is on hold for a few weeks.