RollWithEm

Would you try to win this season or tank again for more talent?

How would you handle Eric Gordon's situation?

What would you do with the 1st and 10th picks?

What trades would you make?

How would you approach free agency?

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/new_orleans.htm

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But that's just me.

Porn Player

This franchise is in a great spot to turn around. My picks? Anthony Davis. Kendall Marshall.

Lock up EG.

Keep Landry.

I would move any and all other pieces for draft picks. This draft has a ton of talent and the Hornets should look to start the rebuild with a bang.

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Basel

I don't think you should try to tank. Not with the #1 and #10 picks. You don't want to bring these guys into a losing environment right off the bat and give them the sense that you don't want to win right away. They're being drafted by you to win and show that they can be the type of player to lead you to that. As for who they should draft at 10, I can't say because I don't know enough about the players outside of the top 4-5 that will probably go.

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Porn Player

Beautifully ambiguous post.

Inspiring stuff, fingers crossed the Hornets front office reads that post.

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Ben

They've got some decent pieces, Gordon, Belinelli, Jack, Landry, Vasquez etc, they're all at least serviceable NBA players. Presuming they take Anthony Davis, which they'd be fools not to, they can build a reputation on building a gritty defensive team. Jack, Gordon, Ariza, Landry, Davis is a very nice starting 5.

They've got to keep Gordon. If he can stay healthy, they've got a great scorer, who's up there with the top 2 guards in the league. The Gordon/Davis combo could work real good for them.

Trades? There's a couple of options on that roster, Okafor could be expendable when they take Davis. He averaged 10/8 this last year, so there'd definitely be a starters job for him elsewhere. Depending on who they take with the 10th pick, a few other names could be made available to the league too. Ariza is one of those players that teams could get from the Hornets in a 3 team deal.

I don't know much about this free agent class or the cap space, so I won't comment on that. Deron/Gordon/Aminu/Landry/Davis would be nice if the numbers could work out though.

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BBBL Portland Trailblazers GM

R-Star

I don't think Gordon wants to be there, so I"d try to work out a sign and trade with picks and/or young talent coming back.

As far as tanking, I don't think you'll have to worry about it. They won't be all that good next year anyways, but it makes more sense to let the kids try and win together. Its not like tanking is a guarantee at the #1 next year anyways.

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RollWithEm

The tanking I was talking about what front office specific. They could ensure that they won't be very good by unloading Ariza/Okafor/Jack to contending teams for young players and draft picks. Maybe take a flier on a guy like Jason Thompson from the Kings to go with the core of

PG Marshall or Lillard
SG Gordon
SF Aminu
PF/C Anthony Davis

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But that's just me.

Dre

This is all outside of the pretense of NBA reality...this is what I would do, not what's likely to happen:

First off "fix" to me implies something quick, like a move or two and they're golden. This team is far from that point but they're on the right track. So I'll be focused with this on keeping them there.

This is the outlook as it stands now:



Obviously, you draft Anthony Davis. Cornerstone, future all-star, defensive anchor, you build around his skillset.

The next and most important decision (because Davis is a no-brainer) is Eric Gordon. He's going to get overpaid. I would not match if someone offers him the max or anything relatively close to it. I would get a TPE from them (let's say 13M) and call it a day.

Gordon in general is a good player but one dimensional at a deep position in the league, no sense in tying yourself into that kind of restricting contract at such an early stage of retooling. People will say Davis/Gordon is a nice start, but in reality it's Davis/a better player/Gordon that's going to lead to contention, so let him walk. Like R-Star said, he also appears to be less than enthused about the situation anyway.

I'm planning for someone to offer a 4 year 56-60M contract, I'd insist on a 13M TPE from them. There's a trade asset.

That leads into the number 10. This year they have a couple options as there's a lot of ambiguity (at least at this juncture) as to who's on what level as a prospect.

There are a couple solid wing and "post" players here. I'd focus on either a contingency plan for Gordon moreso than a point guard.

Jarrett Jack is fine at point guard, in his prime, you can wait another year. I don't know if Kendal Marshall or Damon Lillard are long term answers at point anyway. Perry Jones has questionable motor on the court, Zeller isn't needed with Davis, and Waiters looks to be a rotation player.

When I think 10 pick I always think of the Paul Pierce and Caron Butler picks, they keep the dream alive every year that you'll draft the future all-star/very good starter that slipped for whatever reason.

This year I see that in Jeremy Lamb and Austin Rivers. People question Lamb's long range shooting and defensive intensity, as well as Rivers' willingness to play within a team concept and his ceiling as a scorer in general.

My pick would be Lamb, he has the size advantage, and the flaws in his scouting file are more easily tolerated and/or coachable.

If you draft Rivers to be a dynamite scorer and he ends up not being that you look bad...Lamb looks to be entrenched as a solid 15-8 ppg scorer right out of the gate, and long term can really become special with the right development. There's a chance he's not there, but in my world there are no off chances so he's available and drafted. Jeremy Lamb is your pick.

Now Emeka Okafor. You have the amnesty, you can use it at any time on him..what I would do is keep him around for Davis' sake, and to have a very good backup big anyway. They still have cap space without letting him go, so it's not a restrictive deal. Furthermore, if you play your cards right developing you'll be right on that cusp and needing one more piece to solidify what you have, and Okafor's contract could get you that. The expiring deal will be gold in 2015 when teams will just be starting to feel those new salary cap restrictions.

Carl Landry, I'd do this: I'm going after Jeff Green first, and if it doesn't work out (possible with more desperate teams with cap space and his place in Boston already) then I resign Landry.

Green is more dynamic with his passing ability and princeton offense experience and can defend the 3 through 5 in a pinch. You'd probably be losing out a bit in the interior post offensively but a fast tempo makes up for that. Have a feeling Houston, Jersey or Boston makes Landry a big offer anyway.

Green, ever since leaving OKC and now with missing all of last season needs a fresh start and new identity. He also wants a deal that's lucrative but short enough for him to play his way into a major pay day. Hornets can offer him say 3 years, 25 million, and he should be happy to join a reclamation project with a big man who covers his defensive flaws. He also has free reign to put up the points he needs to look attractive with Davis/Lamb still developing and Gordon gone.

As far as trades, I'd help replace Gordon with Gordon. Ben Gordon is just entering his prime years, and is an excellent scorer/6th man of the year candidate (if Lamb starts). His contract on first glance looks hefty, but assuming Benson defers to management we can use their willingness to take on Odom and Gasol as a sign they'll pay if need be. Also, his contract expires with Okafor's (just noticed the UConn connection) right when those aforementioned luxury tax restrictions kick in and expiring deals will be desired. You never know what the future holds, you might be able to combine them and a pick or something to get an older (but still productive) player a team wants to move on from.

EDIT: I'd be trading the TPE for Gordon, as Detroit wants to shed cap and suck enough to find a difference maker.

Then, finally I'd let Kaman walk, offer Bellinelli something reasonable (3 years 9M) to help the rotation out, and end up with this:

Anthony Davis/Emeka Okafor or Justin Smith
Jeff Green/Emeka Okafor or Justin Smith
Trevor Ariza/Marco Bellinelli
Ben Gordon/Jeremy Lamb
Jarrett Jack/Somebody

That's an up tempo team that can play exciting basketball while Davis develops (while still losing enough to gain high lottery picks) and financially be in position to make major trades/signings by the time Davis is ready to really take a step up in 2-3 years. Makes sense in the stands, makes sense for Benson, makes sense financially.

Pacers Fan

I am in full support of this plan, including Kendall Marshall, except that I might keep Jack and Vasquez. Okafor, Ariza, and some of the other young guys probably need to go, though.

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Indeed.

BlakeJesus

Anthony Davis is a total no brainer, not even worth discussing.

Now at 10, you have some options. There are a few ways they could go, and I really would support a couple of choices. I think Kendall Marshall would be a great fit, but if they are enamored with Jack or not enthralled with Marshall than it is what it is. Terrence Jones could be a nice homerun swing for them, and they would already have some chemistry coming into everything. Perry Jones is another swing for the fences that I wouldn't have an issue with. I would then see what I could do about trading back up into the middle of the second (would be a cheap move to make) and nab Scott Machado. Gives them a pass first backup guard with some potential to be dangerous, and if his weaknesses end up being more glaring than any of his strengths it was a low risk move in the first place.

So coming out of the draft, I would like to see them nab Anthony Davis, a PF prospect (ideally one with a lot of upside), and then steal their backup PG in the 2nd.

I pay Eric Gordon whatever his market value is and live with it, because it's a weak position and he gives you valuable skills. Not to mention you just traded away your franchise player and Eric Gordon was the centerpiece of the return you got on him, and when he played he showed you enough good things. Unless your doctors refuse to clear him you pony up, and you're happy about it.

Personally I don't see a point in amnestying Okafor, he's still a capable player and probably still a valuable tradeable asset. You're not going to sign anybody game changing in free agency, so the cap space is pointless. In fact, you'd have to overpay to get anybody anyways, so just suck it up and let Okafor help ease Davis' transition into the pro's (not to mention Okafor is intelligent and hard working, which would be great qualities for Davis to pick up on). Davis isn't going to be able to guard every center right out of the gate, so having a bigger body like Okafor next to him gives them some match up flexibility.

I would take the Indiana Pacers approach and just bring in high character guys on reasonable contracts without tying anybody down long term. Let all of your young cats grow together and get ample playing time. Hopefully Davis is what everybody expects, hopefully whoever you nab at 10 grows into a starting quality player, and hopefully Eric Gordon can stay healthy. The future could be really bright for this team, and I'm hoping things go well.

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Dre

You don't like Lamb?

BlakeJesus

I don't dislike him, but why waste a pick on a shooting guard when that's the same position your best player (maybe 2nd if you want to count Davis yet) players and neither of them have any positional flexibility? Austin Rivers would make more sense just because he can give you minutes at PG and SG off the bench, but I'd rather gamble on a guy who might end up being my starting PF and compliments the guy I'm drafting number one overall.

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RollWithEm

I can't speak for anyone else, but I do not like Lamb as a pro-prospect. I've got the perfect comparison for him (at least my perception of him). He's is halfway between Juan Dixon and Ndudi Ebi. Right in between them in height, weight, skillset, athletic ability, and even attitude. He's the perfect midpoint between those two players for me... and they were both quite unsuccessful in the league.

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But that's just me.

Dre

True..in my scenario they were letting Gordon walk

And wow Rollwithem...I can't say I agree with that one.

RollWithEm

The more I think about this franchise and their current position, the less possible I think it is for them to let Gordon walk... at any price. They simply cannot lose one of the top 6 SGs in basketball at only 23 years old regardless of his injury history. He just has so much career ahead of him. Gordon, Brow, the 10th pick, and possibly Aminu just have to be the core of this team going forward.

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But that's just me.