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Many of my colleagues in the local media are sold on Monty Williams as the Hornets head coach and Dell Demps as the Hornets general manager.
They may be right.
But in the meantime, I would say there is not nearly enough evidence to support those assumptions.
Williams did a solid job of holding the Hornets together during a tumultuous season that included the trade of Chris Paul and a slew of injuries, including a knee injury to talented guard Eric Gordon.
But, this notion that somehow the Hornets earned the respect of the league by not tanking games late in the season doesn’t hold water.
True, more losses would help the Hornets gain more ping pong balls in the lottery draft. But this was a coach and a roster playing for its NBA life. They had no choice but to play hard.
Think about it. Williams is a head coach who was hired under previous ownership. Of course he wants to show the Hornets’ new owner, Tom Benson, that he can win.
And, the Hornets’ roster at the end of the season was a hodgepodge of potential free agents, former developmental players and players who are scratching and clawing to stay in the league.
The Hornets’ starting five for the season finale at Houston featured the following players:
Forward Lance Thomas split time this season between New Orleans and the Austin Toros of the developmental league.
Forward Al-Farouq Aminu came to New Orleans as part of the Chris Paul trade. He saw extensive playing time late in the season as Williams sent Trevor Ariza to the bench.
Jason Smith, who started at center, has worked hard to improve. But Smith is a reserve in the NBA, period.
Guard Marco Bellinelli has also improved. And this summer he is an unrestricted free agent, playing for a contract.
Guard Jerome Dyson split time between the Hornets and Tulsa of the D-league.
Of course, this group and others, like Xavier Henry and Greivis Vasquez, are going to play hard. To think otherwise is silly.
As for Demps, most of his trades are showing “negative.” He traded guard Darren Collison (started 56 of 60 games at Indiana, averaged 10 points per game) for Ariza, who has $15 million left on the final two years of his contract.
And he traded guard Marcus Thornton (started all 51 games he played for the Kings, averaged 18.7 points) for Carl Landry. Landry, a great person and solid player, averaged 12.5 points a game. But next season, Thornton will be 25, Landry 29.
Demps wanted to trade Paul to the Lakers in a deal that would have brought, among others, Houston’s Luis Scola and Kevin Martin to New Orleans. Both are solid veteran players. But the deal with the Clippers that brought Gordon and a lottery pick here was better. Commissioner David Stern was correct to veto the Paul-to-Lakers trade.
Demps may make the correct choices with two lottery picks. And with plenty of cap space, the Hornets may sign some outstanding free agents.
Monty Williams may be one of the best coaches in the league.
All I am saying is the coronation of Williams and Demps has happened, even though the evidence doesn’t support this hoops euphoria.
Ed Daniels is sports director of ABC26 WGNO. He can be reached at [email protected].
Tags: Benson, Dell Demps, Hornets, Monty Williams, Uncategorized