By NOBaller08
Yes, the Hornets ended the season in a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the reigning champion San Antonio Spurs, but what they had done for the seven months prior negated the pain felt by many Hornets fans as the game clock struck 0:00 around 12 PM CST last night. Its been a wild and record-setting season for the Bees, a team that was on nobody’s list of contenders in late October. I, myself had serious doubts that this team could make the playoffs in the extremely competitive West. I felt that its youth and return to a city that had one of the smallest basketball fan bases in the NBA would render them helpless as far as making the playoffs, and I was sure that we would continue to have significant injuries. I, like many other watchers and speculators of the National Basketball Association, seriously and gravely underestimated the talents and abilities of one Chris Paul. We watched as Paul led this uncertain team to the top of the West, breaking Hornets records along the way and wowing the league with his playground-style moves and tempo. We all watched not only him ascend to stardom, but also the likes David West, who, just a few seasons ago, was fighting to make the roster in hopes of not being deemed a first round bust. The league finally saw the silky-smooth jumper that he had been spending years perfecting, and his offensive prowess and talent became an example for undersized big men trying to make it in the NBA. What we’ve all witnessed is just the beginning of many more seasons and tales to come from these young Hornets.
Before I harp on our future, I would like to give thanks to the Hornets and the front office that has worked so well together to produce such a surprise team. Byron Scott, Kenny Gattison, and the host of assistant coaches and trainers did an excellent job this season. In addition, their cooperation with GM Jeff Bower has been crucial, and I expect continued success out of this tandem in the future. Gattison was the first to say that Bower is one of the few general managers in this league that actually builds a squad of players around what the coaches want in a team on both sides of the ball, and I agree wholeheartedly. Here’s to more of this season’s success in the future, and I hope we continue to progress until we can’t anymore.

So, what can Bower and the rest of the front office do to continue to improve this squad?

Get Tyson Chandler defensive help down low
A major concern all season has been depth in the post. Chandler is undoubtedly our best defender in the post, but behind him there’s nothing. Hilton Armstrong hasn’t been able to get into the rotation, and Melvin Ely has been less than satisfactory throughout the year (I hope he opts out). Ryan Bowen, who has made some big hustle plays, is terrible on the offensive end and has even been a liability defensively. We need a consistent veteran, someone that can spell Chandler without losing a lot of the offensive rebounding and defense. Maybe Chris Andersen will come around? I hope so, and I’m sure they’ll re-sign him.

Re-Sign Jannero Pargo
Pargo is currently under contract, but since he has an upcoming player option I can see him opting out once again for the big money. As much as I believe he’s hurt us at times, I think it would certainly be best to keep him on our roster. The key is how much they’ll pay him.

(Wisely) Re-Sign Bonzi Wells
Bonzi will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. While he’s performed pretty well at times this season, I don’t think it will be wise to give him a big payday. He made roughly $2.3M this year; anything significantly more might bite the team in the ass in the future. I’m concerned about his consistency and how well he fits in this offense, but hopefully he can become a more solid player on the bench for them.

Search for Trading Options for Rasual
Butler hasn’t seen any action since March 3rd, playing seven garbage minutes in a blowout against the Knicks and managing to go 0-4 from the field. It’s too clear that he’s a shell of his former self. His confidence ran out nearly halfway through the season, and with it went his jumpshot. Byron Scott has publicly stated that he told Butler that he could be the Sixth Man of the Year if he applied himself more, but it definitely hasn’t happened. He’s due over $10M over the next three seasons with no player option in sight, certainly too much for someone who has completely fallen out of the rotation with no health or related issues. It will be hard, but hopefully the team will find some sort of deal (even if we have to package Hilton Armstrong or Mike James).

Draft A Two-Guard
I think the best thing the Hornets can do in the upcoming draft is take a shooting guard. They have the 27th pick, and with the medium amount of depth in this draft I believe the team can find a decent one. I think we need a shooter more than anything at the position, as Chris Paul is excellent at finding open guys in their comfort spots on the floor. If not, I wouldn’t mind a defensive-minded, athletic big man such as Joey Dorsey from Memphis or Jason Thompson from Rider. Also look out for Courtney Lee, the talented Sun Belt two guard. The Hornets have no second round selection this year (Bonzi Wells trade).

Capping things off, I just want to say final cheers to the Hornets team for their spectacular season, and I want to wish them further success in the future.

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