Deacon Mike: but what about the Hornets?

Sources: Clippers, Hornets agree

Paul

The Los Angeles Clippers have agreed to a deal in principle with the league-owned New Orleans Hornets to acquire guard Chris Paul, according to sources close to the process.
The Clippers, sources said, will send guard Eric Gordon, center Chris Kaman, forward Al-Farouq Aminu and Minnesota's unprotected 2012 first-round pick to the Hornets for Paul.
The Clippers will also receive two future second-round picks, according to sources.
The deal is expected to be approved by the league Wednesday night, sources said.
Marc Stein is a senior NBA writer for ESPN.com.
Follow Marc Stein on Twitter: @ESPNSteinLine



So here's the deal: I indeed comment frequently on my religion blog about the two things I deeply love in sports: The elite LSU Tigers and the Super Bowl 44 World Champion New Orleans Saints.  Lo and behold, I have never, ever posted a thing on here about the New Orleans Hornets.  What's up with that.

In short, I'm not a big NBA fan but I have loved the fact that we do have a NBA franchise here and it has actually competed at a high level for a couple of the years it has been here.  Not long ago the Hornets actually won a playoff series and last year pushed the LA Lakers in round 1 including an elusive victory in the City of Angeles.

The history of the Hornets in New Orleans is unique in that their arrival was quite unexpected.  We actually became a destination city as the former owners of the Hornets choose New Orleans over Charlotte, North Carolina because of a stadium dust up.  The hero in the early days was a guy named Baron Davis; long gone by now.  The coaching carousel and some awful player personnel moves made the Hornets a bit of a joke and then came Hurricane Katrina.  The Hornets had to play two entire seasons in Oklahoma City and rumors were rampant that we would eventually lose the team to the Okie city.  It most assuredly did not happen but at least our visit there was te impetus for the current Oklahoma City franchise.  But I digress.

The Hornets, now bragging on Chris Paul and with an always good David West, along with the short visit from center Tyson Chandler made this squad better than average.  Under coach Byron Scott, things went well and the team did ok.  In the past year or so, the Hornets and coach Scott parted ways and the owner could not sell the team.  All of a sudden the New Orleans Hornets are owned by the NBA and still no owner emerges.  Contract issues regarding the teams elite players, Chris Paul and David West, were looming and no owner in sight.  And then there was the pesky issue of could New Orleans support this team?  Attendance figures caught the eye of the NBA leadership and some NBA hungry communities across the US of A.  Then a confusing series of events happened.

Inspired by a very good GM, Dale Demps and a more than competent coach in Monty Williams.  With some decent talent added to the lineup, the owner-less Hornets managed a 46-36 record, the crowds started to come and things were looking up.  A brilliant marketing campaign and a strong push by the corporate community helped push the Hornets above and beyond the 10,000 season ticket mark as the 2011-2012 run would began.

Wait a minute.  NBA lockout, still no owner, David West is done and Chris Paul let's it be known this would be his last year in New Orleans; no matter what.  Realizing that simply losing Paul to free agency would decimate the Hornets, trade efforts began on all fronts and it seemed Paul was headed to the Knicks(rumor mill only) the Celtics(again wishful thinking by someone) the Lakers(actually traded and then rescinded by NBA commish) and the Clippers(not the first time but finally tonight).  So all reports indicate Chris Paul will be gone once the NBA formally blesses this trade.  Oh yea, earlier this week we also lost David West to the Indiana Pacers.

Now here is where my NBA expertise goes south.  The Hornets received 3 players from the Clippers and a #1 pick for next year.  These 3 players all seem to have significant upside.  Thank goodness the Hornets received these guys because now the Hornets at least have enough players to field a team.  You see, without Paul to count on, the Hornets had about 6 or 7 legitimate players in uniform and under contract.  Now, the Hornets can move forward and build what they can around a franchise that does not have David West and Chris Paul.

Tonight I'm wondering what those 10,000 season ticket purchasing fans are thinking.  This was a legitimate push by a still beleagured community to support this franchise, impress the NBA and entice someone to buy this team and keep it here in New Orleans.  Will this cadre of players keep our interest?  Time will tell.  Can Demps add more talent to this team?  Can Williams coach this squad up to at least be competitive?  I hope so.

And maybe this won't be my last post about the New Orleans Hornets.

And by the way; so long David West and Chris Paul; you were great for New Orleans Hornets basketball and the community in general.  You will be missed!

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
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