Jury still out on effectiveness of Hornets’ brain trust

    Many of my media colleagues tell me (often) that they think Hornets head coach Monty Williams and general manager Dell Demps are performing their jobs at a very high level.
    You tell me? Am I missing something?
    Forward David West, the consummate pro, professed his admiration for both yet opted out of his contract to sign with, yes, the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers, really?
    As of Dec. 12, free agent forward Carl Landry, a priority re-sign for the Hornets, was still unsigned. Landry came to New Orleans last season in the trade that sent guard Marcus Thornton to Sacramento. Thornton, who didn’t start a game in New Orleans, played in 27 for the Kings and started 23. He averaged 21.3 points per game on only 17.5 shots per game.
    Thornton was recently rewarded with a four-year, $31 million extension by the Kings.
    I had to laugh when I heard all the speculation about Thornton somehow returning to the Hornets. Again, why would Thornton want to play for a coach who buried him on the bench behind Marco Bellinelli? Bellinelli simply is not in the same league with Thornton as a player.
    Let me know when he gets $31 million over four years from any NBA team.
    When the Hornets traded guard Darren Collison to Indiana in the summer of 2010, I heard what a great deal it was for the Hornets. New Orleans had acquired an outstanding defensive small forward and unloaded the final $13 million on the bloated deal given forward James Posey.
    The Pacers still have Collison (one of the league’s most productive guards) under control for three more seasons at a total of $7 million.
    But, the Hornets also owe Trevor Ariza almost $14 million over two seasons and a player option for $7.7 million for a third year.
    And, there’s Chris Paul. There was never any doubt, ever, that he was out of here. And, he should have been dealt in the summer of 2010.
    But, to appease Paul, the Hornets instead traded Collison, brought in a Paul buddy (Jarrett Jack), and traded Thornton (who Paul was not enamored with).
    In some of the plans for the Alario Center, the Hornets even considered adding some bowling lanes for Paul, who is an avid kegler. This is absolutely true. Trust me, it was in the plans.
    All that coddling of Chris Paul got the Hornets two playoff wins in a first-round loss to the Lakers.
    Tim Floyd, in his only season with the Hornets, forced Miami to seven games in the first round and was promptly fired.
    Demps and Williams inherited a pair of very tough jobs. But, I don’t feel sorry for them. They signed on, took on the responsibility and took the considerable cash that comes with the job description.
    And, now the rebuilding that should have started 18 months ago must start now.
    All I hear from my media cohorts is something like … in Dell and Monty we trust.
    Trust me, I am not ready to drink the teal Kool-Aid.
    Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected]