The 2008-2009 season ended on a bittersweet note for all fans of the New Orleans Hornets. A promising 2007-2008 campaign left fans with high hopes for the Hornets of 2008-2009, who easily bowed out in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Players in New Orleans seemingly gave up on their coach, and morale was at a low point as the season ended.
The first step in the downward spiral in New Orleans was the failed trade attempt of center Tyson Chandler to Oklahoma City. This trade was made on New Orleans' part in an effort to avoid the luxury tax, but a failed physical blocked the trade and the Hornets ended up with Chandler back on their roster. No team wants a player who knows his team was willing to lose him.
Although they have traded, making several other moves such as trading away the injury prone and over-paid Peja Stojakovic, nothing has seemed to work. The Hornets have even gone as far to say that no player is safe from being traded, well except for the star of the team Chris Paul that is.
So many teams in the Western Conference have actively made moves during the off-season, bolstering their rosters and their chances in 09-10. The Hornets, on the other hand, have done virtually nothing so far.
So the team has come to terms with the fact that they will, most likely, have to pay the luxury tax, but the Hornets have not done anything to make the team better. As time goes on one will wonder if the Hornets team that made the impressive run in 2008 was a one time occurrence, because as things remain unchanged it seems that things will continue to spiral down for the Hornets.
Any fan of the Hornets must hope to see some kind of move made before the start of the season. Inaction is bound to lead to disappointment.
The first step in the downward spiral in New Orleans was the failed trade attempt of center Tyson Chandler to Oklahoma City. This trade was made on New Orleans' part in an effort to avoid the luxury tax, but a failed physical blocked the trade and the Hornets ended up with Chandler back on their roster. No team wants a player who knows his team was willing to lose him.
Although they have traded, making several other moves such as trading away the injury prone and over-paid Peja Stojakovic, nothing has seemed to work. The Hornets have even gone as far to say that no player is safe from being traded, well except for the star of the team Chris Paul that is.
So many teams in the Western Conference have actively made moves during the off-season, bolstering their rosters and their chances in 09-10. The Hornets, on the other hand, have done virtually nothing so far.
So the team has come to terms with the fact that they will, most likely, have to pay the luxury tax, but the Hornets have not done anything to make the team better. As time goes on one will wonder if the Hornets team that made the impressive run in 2008 was a one time occurrence, because as things remain unchanged it seems that things will continue to spiral down for the Hornets.
Any fan of the Hornets must hope to see some kind of move made before the start of the season. Inaction is bound to lead to disappointment.
About the Author:
Zack Slattery is an amateur basketball reporter with a love for the Hornets. He's a regular commentator at both the NBA basketball forum and the Hornets forum at RootZoo, an interactive community of sports fans.
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