I. INTRO/SEASON IN REVIEW

The New Orleans Hornets. It sounds almost as unnatural as the Utah Jazz. Well, okay, maybe not that bad. As nice as it is to see pro basketball returning to the Big Easy, you can't help but feel for the poor folks in Charlotte. They were wonderful fans for most of the 14 years that the team was there. They just got fed up with the shenanigans of owner George Shinn and, to their everlasting credit, decided not to be held hostage to a professional sports team demanding a rich, new, taxpayer-funded arena deal. Most cities don't quite have the nerve to stand up to teams like the people of Charlotte did. They deserved better. Good luck, New Orleans! Anyway, about the Hornets. Their swan song in Charlotte had its moments. The brilliant Baron Davis loaded this team on his back and carried them into the second round of the NBA playoffs. This was no small task. The team could easily have been derailed by a whole host of distractions, not the least of which was their lame duck status. Jamal Mashburn spent a good chunk of the season hurt, then David Wesley went down for a while, Elden Campbell missed some time, etc, etc. On top of that there is also the unavoidable fact that this is a team that has more experience than talent. Yes, Davis is great, and Mashburn is also a fantastic player. The other three starters, Wesley, Campbell, and P.J. Brown are also decent players, but that's pretty much where it stops. This team has a severe depth problem. Give Paul Silas credit for getting the very most out of this club. But if they don't start making some changes soon, they will be facing a very uncertain future on the court.

II.ROSTER/KEY STATS

C-ELDEN CAMPBELL 13.9 PPG 6.9 RPG 1.8 BPG
C-JAMAAL MAGLOIRE 8.5 PPG 5.6 RPG .551 FG PCT. 1.0 BPG
PF-P.J. BROWN 8.4 PPG 9.8 RPG 1.0 BPG
PF-ROBERT TRAYLOR 3.7 PPG 3.1 RPG 
PF-JEROME MOISO 1.1 PPG
PF-KIRK HASTON 1.7 PPG
SF-JAMAL MASHBURN 21.5 PPG 6.1 RPG 4.3 APG 
SF-LEE NAILON 10.8 PPG 3.7 RPG 
SF-GEORGE LYNCH 3.8 PPG
SF-MATT BULLARD 3.4 PPG
SG-DAVID WESLEY 14.2 PPG 3.5 APG 1.3 3PG
SG-STACEY AUGMON 4.6 PPG 
PG-BARON DAVIS 18.1 PPG 8.5 APG 2.1 SPG 2.1 3PG
PG-BRYCE DREW 3.4 PPG 1.7 APG

PLAYER		CONTRACT		SIGNED UNTIL
ELDEN CAMPBELL	7YR-53 MILL.		2003
JAMAL MASHBURN	14YR-86 MILL.		2007
P.J. BROWN		6YR-33 MILL.		2003
DAVID WESLEY	7YR-20 MILL.		2004
BARON DAVIS		4YR-13 MILL.		2003
ROBERT TRAYLOR	4YR-8.7 MILL.		2002
GEORGE LYNCH	6YR-15 MILL.		2005
STACEY AUGMON	4YR-7.8 MILL.		2004
JEROME MOISO	3YR-4.7 MILL.		2003
BRYCE DREW		3YR-3.9 MILL.		2004
MATT BULLARD	3YR-4.2 MILL.		2003
KIRK HASTON		3YR-3.8 MILL.		2004
JAMAAL MAGLOIRE	3YR-3.1 MILL.		2003
LEE NAILON		1YR-466,000		2002

FREE AGENTS

Lee Nailon, Robert Traylor (team option)

VI. PAST FIRST-ROUND PICKS

• 2001 KIRK HASTON INDIANA (16TH OVERALL)
• 2000 JAMAAL MAGLOIRE KENTUCKY (19TH OVERALL)
• 1999 BARON DAVIS UCLA (3RD OVERALL)
• 1998 RICKY DAVIS IOWA (21ST OVERALL)
• 1997 NO PICK
• 1996 KOBE BRYANT LOWER MERION HS (13TH OVERALL)
• 1996 TONY DELK KENTUCKY (16TH OVERALL)
• 1995 GEORGE ZIDEK UCLA (22ND OVERALL)
• 1994 NO PICK
• 1993 GREG GRAHAM INDIANA (17TH OVERALL)
• 1993 SCOTT BURRELL CONNECTICUT (20TH OVERALL)
• 1992 ALONZO MOURNING GEORGETOWN (2ND OVERALL)
• 1991 LARRY JOHNSON UNLV (1ST OVERALL)

VII. PAST DRAFT HISTORY

COACHING/MANAGEMENT

Well, I've ragged on the owner enough to make my feelings known on that point. Now, let's take a look at the rest of the Hornet's management structure. On a good note, I think that Paul Silas has done a wonderful job coaching this team. The players truly seem to want to play for him, and he has certainly gotten the most out of these guys. He held them together when Mashburn and Wesley were out, kept them playing .500 ball during that time, and then had them prepared to make a run once those key players returned. He deserves tremendous credit. Now, he just needs a little bit more to work with. That job is entrusted to GM Bob Bass, who has been at this for a very long time, going back to the days of the old ABA. So he has plenty of experience and knowledge. But he's got to make better personnel decisions. This starts with the draft. Only four players on the entire squad were actually drafted by the Hornets, with only Davis starting. They need an infusion of young blood, and Bass may need to be willing to make some bold trade maneuvers, as well.

VIII. POSITIONAL ANALYSIS

Center- This does not appear to be a position of need for New Orleans, at least not yet. Elden Campbell may not be the best center in the league, but he's far from the worst. He consistently gives the Hornets a solid 14 point, 7 rebound, 2 block performance. Possibly the biggest worry in relation to Campbell is his advancing age (he'll be 34 next year). Big men often last in the league a bit longer than players at other positions, but his replacement will have to be sought at some time in the not-so-distant future. Could his backup, Jamaal Magloire, man the spot on a regular basis? Maybe, maybe not. Magloire is a real tough guy, and provides a solid defensive and rebounding presence. But his offensive game is lacking, and he's not exactly the most nimble guy around. He may turn out to be better than some of the other starting centers around the NBA (Cato, Nesterovic, Pryzbilla, Battie, blah, blah, blah) but that may not be saying much. He looks more suited to being a career backup.

Power Forward- I hate to take shots at P.J. Brown, who is a very hard-working, blue-collar-type player who does whatever is asked of him to help the team, but this is a position that could use upgrading. Like Elden Campbell, P.J. is getting a little long in the tooth, and he's never been the most proficient scorer in the league. He still plays solid D, and gets his share of rebounds (9.8 per game last year), but with his age and deficiencies, the Hornets need to address this position, if possible. Depth at the spot is also lacking, big time. If one were to look for a player to epitomize the term 'bust', the entire backup forward contingent for the Hornets could qualify. As bad as Robert Traylor has turned out, he looks like an All-Star standing next to the likes of Kirk Haston and Jerome Moiso. Haston still has time to rescue his reputation (and career), but there appears to be no hope for Moiso. Of course, another possibility at power forward is erstwhile small forward Lee Nailon, a solid physical specimen who was considered a pure power player when he came out of college a few years back. Nailon's transition to a wing position was as unlikely as it was miraculous. But he possesses both the tools and the body to play the 4.

Small Forward- If only Jamal Mashburn could stay healthy. He has developed very well during his time in the NBA, but seems not to be mentioned among the league's elite because he spends so much time on IR. He missed 42 games last year (not counting the playoffs), which was even more than his scary career average of 30.5 games-missed-per-year since he entered the league. Now, there are bound to be justifiable worries in regards to the vertigo that sidelined him late. When he's on the court, Mash is one of the better offensive small forwards in the league. He averaged 21.5 ppg, and has the ability the score inside and out. He can also put the ball on the floor. His development into a nifty passer is evidenced by his 4.3 apg, second only to Baron on the team. Mashburn is also a decent rebounder and adequate defender, but his calling card will always be his offense. Behind him is Nailon, whose progress was admirable, but who poses some questions. First, will the Hornets re-sign him? Remember, they let Eddie Robinson get away last year. Nailon is sure to command far more than the $466,000 he earned this season. And while he worked hard enough on his perimeter game to have actually started at shooting guard on occasion, he's never going to be confused for Reggie Miller. His skills still seem better suited for the power forward position. Certainly, the Hornets appear to need another wing player who can hit the three, which Nailon cannot. Matt Bullard has always been a good jump-shooter, but his best days seem far behind him. George Lynch is also around (when he's not hurt), but he's really just another blue-collar type who hardly qualifies as the key reserve that he's often touted as.

Shooting Guard- Although many will disagree, I feel that this is the Hornet's greatest need. This is not meant as a slap at David Wesley, who is a solid player. Its not his fault that he's a midget at the position. This team has milked this experiment for all its worth. Now its time to move Wesley back to his natural point guard position, whether as a damn good backup to Baron Davis, or through a trade to fill some other need. The Hornets are not going to progress as a team until they get some much-needed size at this position. There is also the unavoidable fact that Wesley's game is faltering, whether from being worn down playing out of position, or because he's just plain fading. His numbers (14 ppg, 3.5 apg, 1.1 spg) were some of the lowest he's posted since entering the league. Of course, a foot injury that cost him about 15 games didn't help matters, either. The guy they list as Wesley's backup is Stacey Augmon (4.6 ppg), but he doesn't do much. The fact that Nailon played there when Wesley went down is proof positive of that. This is a position that needs a major infusion of youth.

Point Guard- If the Hornets have nagging questions of one type or another at most every other position, at least they seem set at the point. Baron Davis is, quite simply, a stud. Although it is far-fetched to claim that any point guard is better than Jason Kidd, it is not an overstatement to say that Baron Davis is at least as good as Kidd. Where would the Hornets be without this guy? When he came out of UCLA, he was viewed as a tremendous defender and natural floor leader with a pass first mentality. This was good, for his outside shot was suspect. No more. He has worked hard to perfect his shot, and has hence developed into a dangerous scorer (18.5 ppg) and premier three-point shooter (2.1 3pg). And this offensive improvement has not proven detrimental to either his playmaking (8.5 apg), or his defense (2.1 spg). Behind Davis is Bryce Drew, a decent outside shooter who, needless to say, receives very little PT. If the Hornets get another shooting guard, and Wesley isn't traded, he'll get even less.

IX. TEAM NEEDS

For a team that won 44 games, and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, the Hornets have plenty of needs. With nearly half of the roster, including three starters, 30 or older, this team needs to get younger fast. Outside of defense and rebounding, the Hornets do not possess a great deal of strengths. Their primary need would seem to be a swing player who has the ability to hit from the outside. This will be especially urgent if Mashburn's vertigo lingers. Other needs include size at shooting guard, depth at the forward positions, and a better working environment than the lame duck team had in Charlotte last year. If the Hornets don't start rebuilding right now, the city of New Orleans is going to have a lottery team on their hands quicker than they could ever imagine.

X. AND THE HORNETS TAKE...

Chris Jefferies, 6'7 SF-SG, Fresno State.

This was a tough one. Jefferies' college teammate Melvin Ely also fits in very well, and was difficult for me to pass on. But Jefferies really fills what I think is New Orleans' biggest need, which is size at shooting guard, whether its him playing there or Mashburn. That he is a swing player is also a good trait, given Mashburn's injury history. I think that Jefferies has been one of the more overlooked prospects in the entire draft, probably due to the cartilage tear he suffered in his knee late in the year. The fact of the matter is, he is an outstanding athlete with tremendous defensive skills, capable of slashing to the basket or taking the outside shot. Some scouts say that he is not a great shooter or ballhandler, but his junior season numbers of two three-pointers per-game (on 35% shooting) and 3.1 assists per-game seem to contradict this. The inevitable Scottie Pippen comparisons that always crop up in relation to versatile swing players is probably also somewhat misguided, but make no mistake, this guy can play. Where does this leave Wesley? Trade him for a power forward!

XI. OTHER PLAYERS CONSIDERED

Melvin Ely, 6'10 PF, Fresno State. I really like this guy. He seems a safer pick to me than some of the power players ranked above him, such as Wilcox, Hilario, Haislip, Jared Jeffries, and especially, Amare Stoudamire. He has worked hard on his game in his years at Fresno, and has become a very solid scorer (he has range on his jumper to 15 feet), rebounder, and defender. I really think that he would be a perfect fit for this team. So why did I take Jefferies, instead? Because P.J. can hold down the fort for now and keep the Hornets in contention easier than Wesley remaining at shooting guard can. Really, though, I don't think they could go wrong either way.

Kareem Rush, 6'6 SG, Missouri. Rush would also be a good fit, but is not as versatile, or as good a defender as Jefferies. He's a brilliant shooter, can explode to the basket, and create off the dribble. He's going to give somebody an excellent, prototype, shooting guard.

Mladen Sekularac, 6'9 SG, Yugoslavia. When scouts talk about big guard prospects from overseas, the names that usually crop up are Jiri Welsch (not much of an athlete, and certainly not a point guard), Bostjan Nachbar (super prospect, but signed to a long-term deal with Benetton Treviso, which nobody seems to mention), and Sani Becirovic (got hurt this year and wisely didn't put his name in). But the guy that I think is better than them all is Sekularac, who is much closer to someone like Peja Stojakovic than the others. Sekularac has plenty of experience, he's strong, can run the floor and finish, and he's a tremendous offensive player (though his outside shot could use some work). Although he is rumored to be a lazy defender, he did average nearly three steals per game this year in Yugoslavia, and he possesses all the physical attributes (size, strength, quickness, wingspan) needed to be very solid defensively. A real sleeper.

XI. WHO THE HORNETS WILL PROBABLY TAKE

My bet is that they will take someone they shouldn't. They have a proven track record in this regard. I can see them taking Tennessee's Marcus Haislip if he is there, although that may not be such a bad thing. Haislip is a fantastic athlete with loads of potential, but for some reason he reminds me of a certain other Marcus. You know, the one that plays for the Knicks. That would be a bad thing. Other possibilities include Virginia's Roger Mason, who I think is being vastly overrated, and Duke's Carlos Boozer, who looks like the second coming of Corliss Williamson, however you want to take that. If Kareem Rush is still on the board, I'd like to think that even the Hornets would be smart enough to jump on that one. We'll see. Nachbar and Ely are also possibilities.

OTHER NEEDED MOVES

Re-sign Nailon and begin the rebuilding job. If that means dealing one or more of the vets (excluding Davis, of course), so be it. It may be fitting to fashion a whole new team for their new city. It would be advantageous, as well, for the owners to meld into the woodwork and not be so visible. They ruined a good thing in Charlotte, and need to take a new tack in New Orleans. Of course, it doesn't appear as if this will be the case. Shinn feels he actually needs to take more of a take-charge role than he has in past seasons. He says he wants to once again make the Hornets a model small-market franchise. For the sake of the great city of New Orleans, here's hoping he succeeds.