All summer long Hornets fans waited, speculated, and then waited some more for the franchise to open up it’s pocketbooks. Finally, on July first the opening bell rang and the money started flowing out, for most teams anyway. Instead, the faithful are left with only the taste of Luther Head lingering on their breath, afraid to even open their mouths for fear of letting a realistic Chris Paul trade rumor in by accident.

Ryan wrote about A New Dawn for the team and expressed that if Paul does leave, it’s not the end of the world.

On one hand, the team missed out on LeBron James.  Dwyane Wade, Heat (six years, $107 million); Chris Bosh, Heat (six years, $110 million); Amare Stoudemire, Knicks (five years, $100 million); Dirk Nowitzki, Mavs (four years, $80 million); Rudy Gay, Grizzlies (five years, $81 million); Carlos Boozer, Bulls (five years, $75 million); Joe Johnson, Hawks (six years, $120 million); David Lee, Warriors (six years, $80 million); Paul Pierce, Celtics (four years, $61 million); Ray Allen (two years, $20 million); John Salmons (five years, $39 million); Jermaine O’Neal, Celtics (two years, $12 million); Brendan Haywood, Mavs (six years, $55 million); Tyrus Thomas, Bobcats (five years, $40 million); Linas Kleiza (R), Raptors offer sheet (four years, $18 million); Josh Childress, Suns (five years, $35 million); Mike Miller, Heat (five years, $30 million); Udonis Haslem, Heat (five years, $20 million); Raymond Felton, Knicks (three years, $25 million); Travis Outlaw, Nets (five years, $35 million); Chris Duhon, Magic (four years, $15 million); Hakim Warrick, Suns (four years, $18 million); Channing Frye, Suns (five years, $32 million); Drew Gooden, Bucks (five years, $32 million); Amir Johnson, Raptors (five years, $32 million); Darko Milicic, Wolves (four years, $20 million); J.J. Redick, Bulls offer sheet (three years, $20 million); Steve Blake, Lakers (four years, $16 million); Randy Foye, Clippers (two years, $8 million); Ryan Gomes, Clippers (three years, $12 million); Kyle Korver, Bulls (three years, $15 million); Brian Cook, Clippers (two years, $2.5 million); Dominic McGuire, Kings (one year, $800,000); Jordan Farmar, Nets (three years, $12 million); Anthony Morrow, Nets (three years, $12 million); Johan Petro, Nets (three years, $10 million); Luther Head, Hornets (two years, $2.3 million); Dorell Wright, Warriors (three years, $11 million); Wesley Matthews, Blazers offer sheet (five years, $34 million); Tony Allen, Grizzlies (three years, $10 million); Ben Wallace, Pistons (two years, $4 million); Derek Fisher, Lakers (three years, $10 million); Quentin Richardson, Magic (three years, $8 million); Ian Mahinmi, Mavs (two years, $4 million); Al Harrington, Nuggets (five years, $34 million); Luke Ridnour, Wolves (four years, $16 million); Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Heat (two years, $2.8 million); Kyle Lowry, Rockets (three years, $24 million); Shaun Livingston, Bobcats (two years, $7 million); Raja Bell, Jazz (three years, $10 million); Luis Scola, Rockets (five years, $47 million); Nate Robinson, Celtics (two years, $7 million); Ronnie Brewer, Bulls (three years, $12 million); Joel Anthony, Heat (five years, $18 million); Marquis Daniels, Celtics (re-signs, one year, $2.5 million); Theo Ratliff, Lakers (one year, $1.35 million); Richard Jefferson (four years, $39 million); Brad Miller, Rockets (three years, $15 million); Juwan Howard, Heat (one year, $1.4 million); Matt Barnes, Lakers (two years, $3.6 million); James Jones, Heat (one year, $1 million); Kurt Thomas, Bulls (one year, $1 million); C.J. Watson, Bulls (two years, $6.5 million); Shelden Williams, Nuggets (one year, $915,852); Royal Ivey, Thunder; Craig Smith, Clippers; and Antoine Wright, Kings, found greener pastures as well.

Left on the board are three perennial all stars. Shaq, Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson are still three of the biggest names in the NBA, and could all potentially be had by the Hornets. What’s even more intriguing is that each of the three can be had for pennies on the dollar. If George Shinn/Cargy Chouest aren’t going to sign anyone of value this offseason, and it appears they won’t, then why not go after a former star on a one year deal.

McGrady is literally begging for a deal in Chicago, and although he was fairly productive with the Knicks last year it remains to be seen whether or not the Bulls will be willing to add him to the locker room. At this point in his career McGrady plays both shooting guard and small forward, positions in which the Hornets find themselves in need of help on the depth chart.