2010-11 Season Previews: New Orleans Hornets

Man, New Orleans has some crazy popsicles

The NBA season is fast upon us, so its time for the Pick and Scroll to begin previewing each team.  We're going to go in order from worst record to best.  How should residents of the Big Easy be feeling about their team after a roller coaster ride of an offseason?


2009-10 Record: 37-45
Additions: Dell Demps (GM), Monty Williams (Coach), Trevor Ariza (Trade), Marco Belinelli (Trade), Willie Green (Trade), Jason Smith (Trade), Joe Alexander (FA), Pops Mensah-Bonsu (FA), Quincy Pondexter (Draft)
Subtractions: Jeff Bower, James Posey, Morris Peterson, Craig Brackins, Darius Songaila, Julian Wright, Darren Collison, Ike Diogu, Sean Marks

Pacers-Hornets-Rockets-Nets Trade Analysis

Yesterday, Chad Ford broke the news that a 4 team trade involving 5 players occurred between the Pacers, Hornets, Rockets, and Nets.  This wasn't a bunch of no-names either as each team either got or traded a significant player on their roster.

Indiana Pacers trade: Troy Murphy

Indiana Pacers receive: Darren Collison, James Posey, approx. $4.2 million trade exception

New Orleans Hornets trade: Darren Collison, James Posey

New Orleans Horents receive: Trevor Ariza

Houston Rockets trade: Trevor Ariza

Houston Rockets receive: Courtney Lee, approximately $6.3 million trade exception

New Jersey Nets trade: Courtney Lee

New Jersey Nets receive: Troy Murphy

My analysis of each teams haul after the jump.

Unsung Heroes: Southwest Division

Players are often described as being "overrated" or "underrated".  In the NBA, this often translates to overrated players being players that are good, but vastly overpaid for their abilities, or who get more media exposure than some other players, while underrated often means a player who is making a pittance for his current production (funnily enough, underrated players tend to become labeled overrated when they get new, bigger contracts).

I do think there are some underrated players though, players that aren't as widely known for their roles on their team, who don't often get mentioned for their contributions but are indeed integral parts of their team.

Over the next week or so, I'll be looking at each team to find one "underrated" player for each team in the league.  Tuesday, we looked at the Atlantic Divsion, Wednesday the Central, and yesterday the Southeast. After the jump, we leave the East Coast and travel to the Southwest.

New Orleans Needs to Stand Up to Chris Paul

So the latest NBA news is that Chris Paul, perhaps the best point guard in the league, wants out of New Orleans as reported by Ken Berger for CBS Sports.

According to the report (which isn't completely new, rumors of Paul wanting out have been surfacing ever since Byron Scott was let go), Paul is frustrated at management for failing to build a contender around him, and wants to follow in LeBron James footsteps (it should be noted that he just joined LeBron's marketing company LRMR) and join a team with another superstar, preferably the Lakers, Knicks, or Magic.

Troubling news for the Hornets Franchise, no?