After a great 2007-2008 season and a very impressive playoff run, the 2008-2009 Hornets looked nothing like the team from the season before as they rolled over in the first round of the playoffs. Fans in New Orleans were disappointed with the result, as the season before paved the way for hope that the Hornets team was on the rise. Clashes between players and coach Byron Scott, among other things, killed the momentum for the New Orleans Hornets last season.
Things looked like they started coming undone once Tyson Chandler was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a move to save money so that the Hornets would not have to pay the luxury tax. As things turned out, the trade was rescinded and the Hornets were "stuck" with Chandler and his contract. This put a damper on Chandler's enthusiasm and the team's chemistry.
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.
Because of this, it's very likely that New Orleans will be stuck paying yet another luxury tax. This could be justified if there was an improvement in the team's talent pool, but this isn't the case whatsoever. It's starting to seem more and more than the 2007-2008 season was the near-term pinnacle for the Hornets, and each season from here will fall short, and possibly even regress, if no moves are made.
It's up to the front office to seize the day and put this team back on track.
Things looked like they started coming undone once Tyson Chandler was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a move to save money so that the Hornets would not have to pay the luxury tax. As things turned out, the trade was rescinded and the Hornets were "stuck" with Chandler and his contract. This put a damper on Chandler's enthusiasm and the team's chemistry.
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.
Because of this, it's very likely that New Orleans will be stuck paying yet another luxury tax. This could be justified if there was an improvement in the team's talent pool, but this isn't the case whatsoever. It's starting to seem more and more than the 2007-2008 season was the near-term pinnacle for the Hornets, and each season from here will fall short, and possibly even regress, if no moves are made.
It's up to the front office to seize the day and put this team back on track.
About the Author:
Zack Slattery is an amateur basketball reporter with a passion for the Hornets. He's a regular commentator at both the NBA basketball forum and the Hornets forum at RootZoo Sports.
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