Pelicans Jerseys

It took a while, but we finally got a look at the new Pelicans' jerseys. My only complaint, and it seems to be the majority criticism of the jerseys, is the font for "New Orleans" is too small on the front. I really like the shorts and the side stripes that outline the beak of a pelican.

These jerseys are receiving negative feedback for being too bland, but I like them. They are a lot more creative than the Oklahoma City Thunder or Brooklyn Nets jerseys are. I can't wait to see them on the court this fall.

Ready for Pelicans basketball?

Here's the court they're going to play on, as unveiled today. Still waiting on jerseys though:

Pelicans Land the 6th Pick in the Draft

Last night the NBA held its Draft Lottery and the New Orleans Pelicans came away with the 6th pick. When looking at the odds, the 6th pick was the most likely scenario with a 36% chance of that happen and once the Wizards moved up from the 8th spot into the top 3, the only hope was that New Orleans had also moved up. Dell Demps said that the Pelicans were only one lotto ball away from leaping into the #3 spot, but it wasn't meant to be and now the team drafts sixth.

Now that the order is set, what will New Orleans do with the pick? There are lots of options and with the cap room that the Pelicans have this offseason, they can be a big player in making deals. Will they move the pick, package it with players and acquire picks and players, or stay pat and selected at the 6th spot? That's what the next month or so holds for NBA fans to ponder.

Here's a look at some very early mock drafts and who they project the Pelicans to select:

• Bourbon Street Shots:  Dario Saric, SF, Croatia
• CBS Sports: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
• Sports Illustrated: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan 
• Sporting News: Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana
• Yahoo Sports: Alex Len, C, Maryland
• WalterFootball: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan
• NBA.com: Trey Burke, PG, Michigan

New Orleans Pelicans

It's official. After this season, the Hornets are no more. Welcome the New Orleans Pelicans! I have to say that when I first heard the name Pelicans, like most, I didn't like it. But word first leaked, it has grown on me. After the rebrand unveiling today, I am firmly behind the name and surprisingly, the colors as well.

The Pelicans will wear blue, gold (same gold as the Saints) and red. I didn't like red as a color option as soon as I heard it, but again, after the presentation today, I'm on board. These are the colors in the New Orleans flag, so instead of taking the easy way out and picking Mardi Gras colors, they went with more subdued colors and they work well together. I can't wait to see the uniforms, but from the look of the main logo and the secondary ones, the uniforms will be a hit as well.

The highlight of the logo for me is the crescent basketball. I hadn't even noticed it before they pointed it out during the presentation, but it's just a nice subtle touch and works so well for a team located in the Crescent City. The team seems to have fully embraced the Pelicans already from concept and colors to awareness and coastal preservation. Today, is a win for the NBA and Louisiana. 

Dell Demps Still Wheeling and Dealing

Dell Demps still isn't through tweaking the Hornets roster. In yet another solid move in an A+ offseason, the Hornets are acquiring center Robin Lopez and PF Hakim Warrick from the Phoenix Suns in a three-team trade that also involved the Minnesota Timberwolves. Finally, fans and the Times-Picayune can stop complaining about the Hornets lack of a "true" center. While Lopez may not be the long-term answer in the middle (then again, he may actually be), this is still a great move for the team. 

Anthony Davis will get some minutes at center and that may eventually be his position in the pros, but right now he's too fresh and too thin to spend all his time banging with the bigs. Lopez will help in that area. He can man the middle and hopefully, show Davis a few things he's learned about playing center in the NBA.

There's still some details being worked out on the deal. No word yet on if Eric Gordon's heart is being sent back from the Suns, but some articles have the Hornets shipping soon-to-be-retired Brad Miller's contract to Minnesota, while others say this can't be done per the CBA since we just acquired that asset from the Timberwolves themselves a few weeks ago, so Miller may be going to Phoenix. Needless to say, the Hornets aren't giving up much in this deal -- along with Miller, supposedly, NOLA gives up some future 2nd round picks (the same ones from that original Minnesota trade?) and PG Jerome Dyson, who was outplayed in summer league by teammate Brian Roberts.

Now the question is, are the Hornets finished? The likely answer is nope. Warrick joins a now crowded group of bigs, so his time in the Big Easy may not be a long one. They may hold on to him for the time being, but he could be traded during the season for another asset.

Just think, last year the Hornets were a mess and now they are one of the more exciting young teams in the league who are turning into must see TV for NBA fans. The future certainly is bright for the Hornets ... now, if we could just see some movement on that rebrand.

Update: Whoops, the deal may not be legal. 

The Future

The future sure does look bright for the Hornets - new owners, followed up by a great draft:

Oh, but it is New Orleans, and this has been the most newsworthy offseason in Big Easy sports history so you knew the shoe was going to drop soon. And it has with the Hornets' biggest star basically saying he doesn't want to play in New Orleans. First, he says his heart's in Phoenix and now he feels like the Suns are more committed to him than New Orleans.

The Hornets have made it clear that they want to build around Gordon, but somewhere along the way, he didn't receive the memo. The Hornets have done everything right since free agency started. They let him test the market and let the league decide his value. They had no reason to negotiate with him, since they could let someone else do the dirty work and simply can match whatever offer Gordon signs. But now that he is making it clear he wants to be with the Suns, what should New Orleans do? Do they let him walk? Of course not. The decision now is if they can work out a sign and trade before Gordon signs the Suns offer, which he can do on July 11, or if they just match the deal and try to patch up the relationship.

Gordon is worth building the team around. He's one of the top young shooting guards in the league and was the biggest asset acquired in the Chris Paul trade last year. He does have a injury history (he only played in nine games last year) and now could be a distraction in a very young locker room. The fans won't easily forgive him either. In New Orleans, one of the most important things fans want players to do is embrace the city. New Orleans is a unique place and the players who get it (Drew Brees) embrace it fully and become one of its native sons, but those who don't embrace it and talk "negatively" about playing here, have a hard time making up for it.

Needless to to say, the Hornets have a big decision to make and the next week or so should be very interesting.

Hornets Land #1 Pick!

After a tough season, including trading away Chris Paul and being laughed at for being owned by the NBA, the Hornets are finally having the last laugh. Local ownership has been brought in, there's talk of a rebrand and now  New Orleans is set up for the future after landing the top pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. Good days are ahead Hornets (or Pelicans, Brass, Angels, Dukes, etc. whatever the new name turns out to be) fans.

Will Ferrell Intros Bulls/Hornets

The highlight of the Hornets season?

Moving On

Hornets fans it's the end of an era. It's a new day. It's time to move on. Last night, the NBA-owned Hornets sent franchise player Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers for Eric Gordon, Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and a 1st round pick (the better of Minnesota's unprotected #1 or the Clippers own pick).

For the past week, trade proposals have been leaked, the league has been criticized and the Hornets looked to be in a mess, but this trade is the best possible outcome a Hornet fan could hope for (short of CP3 having a change of heart and resigning in NOLA long-term ... keep dreaming). While fans may be looking through their teal glasses, NBA players know the truth: the Hornets are not a destination team at the moment. They are a sma

ll-market franchise with no owner. The league took them over last year because there were tons of concerns about the operations of the team. But looking at where the team was last year and where they are going, the future is bright.

Credit the NBA and Dell Demps for getting a good deal (almost all NBA pundits calling a a good haul for the Hornets). They now have pieces in place to build for the future. It remains to be seen how happy the incoming players will be about being traded. Gordon is the key piece in the puzzle. He will be up for an extension in the near future, and the Hornets have to do everything they can to convince him to resign here. He is the building block this team needed. Aminu is a recent lottery pick and while an unknown player, he could blossom into another building block. Kaman is an older piece with an expiring contract, so the team could hold onto him or flip him for some other players.

The key is the first round pick. Hornets fans will watch Minnesota basketball intently this season with a rooting interest (rooting against the T-Wolves), so the pick could be a higher one. You never know what could happen in the Draft Lottery, and it just gives fans one more thing to talk about and creates buzz around a franchise that is a distant second fiddle to the Saints in New Orleans.

With David West leaving in free agency and now Paul being moved, the Hornets team that fans have watch over the past few years is no more. It's a new era of Hornets basketball, one with a bright future. All indications are that a new owner will be in place in the near future. A new lease agreement is being worked on with the city and state, and the fans have really stepped up by buying more than 10,000 season tickets. Maybe New Orleans can be a basketball town after all.

And to Chris Paul, thank you for making basketball in the Crescent City relevant. Thank you for diving right into New Orleans. Thank you for carrying this team on your back for all these years. It was a fun run and you were a class act throughout your time here. Fans hate to see you go, but understand the business of basketball. It was better to move on now and not create a circus throughout the season. Good luck in the other LA.

Basketball in NOLA is in Trouble

If you like having NBA basketball in Louisiana, it's time to step up and support it. The NBA is buying the team and for it to stay in New Orleans, fans have to show the league that they'll support the product. If fans continue to not show up and attendance dwindles, any potential buyer for the team will be free to move the franchise (only having to pay $10 million exit fee to the state).

I'll admit that I've only made a few games, and haven't been since before Katrina. I've never seen Chris Paul play live and my last game saw Speedy Claxton at point guard. But I do keep up with the team and watch them on Cox Sports any chance I get, but that's not going to keep them here.

I'd be upset if the team left and enjoy New Orleans being a major league city with two major sports franchises. Everyone loves the Saints, more so now, but the Hornets have been slow to catch on. So Hornets fans, do you want to keep the Hornets or let them leave?

Here are some potential cities that would be interested in the Hornets.

Hornets Improved to 3-0

Perhaps the biggest early surprise of the NBA season are the Hornets. They are now 4-0, give all-out effort and are fun to watch. I like the new pieces they've added, especially Marco Belilleni. The Hornets may have finally found a legitimate two-guard to start opposite Chris Paul. Hopefully, the team keeps it up and CP3 sees that he can win in New Orleans.

Hornets Make a Trade

The Hornets have made a trade today, acquiring PG Willie Green and C Jason Smith from the 76ers for F Craig Brackins and F Darius Songaila.

The Hornets needed a backup point guard, so they must like what Green brings. I don't know much about him, but more fans seem to be happy to acquire more size coming off the bench in Smith. Fans also seem upset to lose rookie, 1st rounder Brackins, but I'm glad they didn't give up their second 1st rounder, Quincy Pondexter. I'm excited to see him, and I'm not as sure about Brackins.

All in all, right now fans have to trust the new coach/GM regime and they are bringing in "their" players and filling the roster with "their" guys.

Hornets Wheeling and Dealing

New Hornets GM Dell Demps wasn't kidding when he told Chris Paul that they had a plan and had some trades in the works. The team pulled off two of those trades today. Dare I ask what's next?

The first trade involved four teams. The Hornets received Trevor Ariza, the Rockets got Courtney Lee, the Nets received Troy Murphy and the Pacers got Darren Collison and James Posey. Basically, the Hornets traded Collison for Ariza and forced Indiana to take on Posey's contract in the process. It's tough to give up such a young, promising point guard in Collison, but if the Hornets have to convince CP3 that they are in it to win it the next two years, it'll take moves like this.

Not long after the four-team deal was announced, news broke that the Hornets weren't done. They sent the disappointing Julian Wright to Toronto for Marco Belinelli. Wright was given opportunities to succeed in New Orleans and never took advantage of it. He's got all the athleticism in the world, so a change of scenery might be good for him. His fate was probably sealed with he refused to play in Summer League. I don't know much about Belinelli, but anything he gives the Hornets will be more than Wright did the past few years.

So CP3, what do you think?

NBA Schedule Released

The NBA released its schedule today and the Hornets open the season against the Milwaukee Bucks. Here's a nice breakdown of the Hornets slate of games and here are 20 games to watch.

Chris Paul Meets with The Hornets

The most anticipated meeting in recent memory finally took place today between the Hornets and All Star point guard Chris Paul. Following weeks of rumors about the possibility of Paul being traded and behind the scenes trade demands, the two sides finally met and from the reports, the meeting went well.

Following the meeting, Paul released this statement:

The meeting went well. It was great to get an opportunity to sit down with Coach Williams, President Weber and our new general manager Dell Demps. 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.

This could be a PR move and damage control or it could mean that the trade rumors and demands were blown out of proportion. ESPN was one that kept fueling the trade rumor fire and they love to keep stories like this going.

Or it could mean that Paul has no leverage right now with 2 years left on his contract, so he has to toe the company line and give the Hornets a chance. This is far from over, but if the Hornets make some moves in free agency or with some trades and can get off to a fast start when the season begins, this will all be forgotten. Wins cure everything.

Hornets Get Their Man

The Hornets have hired Dell Demps to be the team's new general manager and from all accounts, it looks to be a good hire.

Demps, who previously worked for the Spurs, was coveted by both the Suns and Hornets. For a bit it looked like the Hornets would lose out on their #1 choice once again, as they did when they targeted Tom Thibodeau for head coach. Thibodeau went to Chicago instead and the Hornets settled for Monty Williams. This time it appears they landed their #1 guy and since the Suns fought so hard to get him too, Hornets fans should be pleased that they got a solid GM in place.

Now it remains to be seen how he'll be able to operate with a roster that needs upgrading and a shaky ownership situation. With star Chris Paul making noise in recent weeks, this is an important year for the Hornets to show that they can and will compete in the loaded Western Conference.

Hornets Part Ways with GM Jeff Bower

The Hornets and GM Jeff Bower have decided to part ways and now the Hornets are searching for a replacement general manager. Many fans are excited about the move, especially with all the rumor and speculation surrounding Chris Paul. It's too early to tell if this change will help the Hornets retain Paul long-term, but it can't hurt.

In recent years, the Hornets haven't made the best personnel moves and are now strapped with bad contracts and not great depth on the bench. It was clear that changes needed to be made.

Rumors are flowing about who will replace Bower and many fans are hoping that former Portland GM Kevin Pritchard gets the job. Pritchard would bring a more aggressive approach, as in recent years he was a master at working the draft by moving around and acquiring more selections. The Hornets, in recent years, seemed more likely to trade out of the draft completely than to make a good move.

Bower always seemed to have a better reputation outside of New Orleans than he did here. He got fans excited with guys like Peja Stojakovic, Emeka Okafor and James Posey, but those same guys are the ones who's contracts are hurting the team now.

Chris Paul has made it known that he wants to win and wants to win now. Hopefully this change will allow the team to make some moves and keep the team competitive enough to keep CP3 excited about playing in the Big Easy for the long term.

Hornets Draft Recap

The New Orleans Hornets didn't sit back quietly with their one draft pick last Thursday. They decided that two is better than one and turned the #11 pick into two first rounders and shed a bad contract in the process.

At #11, the Hornets took center Cole Aldrich from Kansas. I was pleased with the pick, but we soon learned that Aldrich would be heading the Hornets former, temporary home of Oklahoma City. Initially, the reports were that the deal was for picks 18 and 21, but it turned out to be for picks 21 and 26. The Hornets also shed some cap space and sent the disappointing Morris Peterson to the Thunder as well. Peterson was signed a few years ago as a free agent, one that the Hornets coveted for a few years, but he never panned out in the Big Easy.

With their newly acquired picks, the Hornets took forward Craig Brackins of Iowa State and forward Quincy Pondexter of Washington. I don't know much about either player, but both should be able to contribute right away.

All in all, it was a good night for the Hornets. They got two young players that could give them solid minutes this year and shed a contract, making them able to be active in free agency.

NBA Draft Day

Happy NBA Draft Day! Growing up, I was a big basketball fan, but then again that was when we were watching guys like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Clyde Drexler, Dominique Wilkins, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Shawn Kemp, Hakeem Olajuwan, Patrick Ewing, John Stockton, and on and on and on. In other words, the NBA was in great hands and fans ate it up.

Anyway, I'm less of an NBA fan nowadays, but I do follow the Hornets and enjoy having a local team to follow. Over the years, the NBA Draft has slacked off as a must see event, but I still enjoy watching it (I enjoy any draft though).

The trouble in recent years is that fans don't know most of the players. With all the high school, one-and-done college and international players, fans didn't have a chance to learn about the new prospects. At least now, there aren't high schoolers in the draft, but that doesn't mean I'll know a whole lot of the players picked. But who cares, the NBA Draft is a good time. There's the pundits drooling over upside and length, the crazy suits, the international guys picked late in the 2nd round who happen to be in the audience and they make their way to the stage for a photo with the deputy commissioner, even though they are the 51st pick. What's not to love?

Anyway, the Hornets pick 11th and could go in many different directions, including trading Chris Paul. I'd put the likelihood of a Chris Paul trade at about 1 percent, but there could be some moves involving the Hornets whether its trading down (please don't trade completely out of the draft for financial reasons), getting rid of some contracts like Peja, Mo Peete or Emeke Okafor (I know Okafor is due a lot of $, but I'd like to see him stay), trading away backup point guard Darren Collison ... or some combination of all of these.

If the Hornets stay pat at #11, here's a look at what a few mock drafts have them doing:

• Times Picayune: Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky
• SI.com: Luke Babbitt, F, Nevada
• HoopsHype: Xavier Henry, SG/F, Kansas
• WalterFootball: Xavier Henry, SG/F, Kansas
• NBADraft.net: Paul George, SF, Fresno St.
• DraftTek: Paul George, SF, Fresno St.
• NBADraftDepot: Xavier Henry, SG/F, Kansas
• HoopsAddict: Cole Aldrich, C, Kansas
• MyNBADraft: Patrick Patterson, PF, Kentucky
• NBA-Draft.com: Xavier Henry, SG/F, Kansas
• SpoonHoops: Luke Babbitt, F, Nevada
• CollegeHoopsUpdate: Gordon Hayward, F, Butler
  

Chris Paul on the Trading Block?

No way the Hornets would ever consider moving Chris Paul, right? He's the face of the franchise and the main reason the Hornets have had any success since they moved to NOLA. Well, don't get too attached to him now because I can definitely see scenarios where CP3 is traded.

Rumors have been rampart for a few weeks now and with the NBA Draft taking place tomorrow night, there's a chance that by Friday, Paul will no longer be a Hornet. How can this be, you might say? Consider this, the Hornets are in clear rebuilding mode. Last year, the GM took over as head coach. Now they have a 1st time NBA head coach in Monty Williams, who is also the youngest NBA coach in the league. CP3 has made it clear that while he wants to stay in NOLA, he wants to play for a winner more. So this whole rebuilding thing isn't for him.

Then, take a look at last season, Paul missed half the season with injuries. Rookie Darren Collison filled in and did a great job, especially for a rookie (And if they don't move Paul, Collison is the next valuable asset that could be traded). While Collison's no Chris Paul, he did average 12.5 points and 5.7 assists per game, and those numbers are surely to only improve with more experience.

The last thing to consider is that Paul only has two more years on his contract. That's something big to consider. His trade stock would only diminish the longer the Hornets hold onto him, since the closer he gets to free agency, teams will just wait until he hits the open market. With the Hornets ownership situation in limbo, the team may have to take Paul's contract into consideration. Can they even afford to pay him for his last two years of his deal? Then you have to look at what CP3 will do when his contract is up. If the Hornets have two more seasons of sub-40 win seasons and miss the playoffs, why would Paul want to stay? Let's even consider that they do make the playoffs in the next two years, are they better than the 6th or 7th seed in the loaded West? Being bounced in the 1st round surely wouldn't entice CP3 to want to hang around the Big Easy much longer.

So all this leads to the Hornets listening to offers for their franchise player. Fans won't like a trade involving Chris Paul, but it's better to get something for him now (and offers have included the #3 pick in this year's draft), and plan for the future.