There’s a lot of rumors floating around out there about the Hornets. That’s to be expected considering how much of the front office and ownership continues to be unsettled.
One of the rumors is that the Hornets Owners are no longer on speaking terms due to the negotiations around the sale of the team. The team issued a statement from each owner today in an attempt to refute that.
Of course, they weren’t on camera, sitting next to each other, sharing a beer while telling Chris Paul they’d hired Dells from San Antonio while acquiring Danny Granger, Andersen Varejao and Andre Igoudala – so I think the rumors and speculative press may continue.
Anyways – on to their statements:
George Shinn:
“Gary has been a phenomenal partner for the past three seasons, and we will continue to collaborate to build this franchise into a championship contender for New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. The Chouest family shares the same core values that make up the foundation of our franchise, and I am proud to work with him on decisions that will improve our entire organization. We have just hired one of the brightest young minds as our new head coach and are excited for the talent and experience that will be added to our general manager position. This is an exciting time for the Hornets organization, and we have the utmost confidence in the direction of the team on and off the court.”
And
Gary Chouest:
“I remain committed to the Hornets family and ensuring our long-term success in South Louisiana. George Shinn and I have been in constant communication since we became partners a few years ago, and we have both discussed in-depth and given our blessings for each decision that has been made within the organization. The sale of an NBA franchise is a complicated process, and we are committed to doing what’s best for the entire organization. I have great confidence in the leadership headed up by Hugh Weber and am excited about what the future holds for the Hornets family. George and I will continue to work together as partners to ensure our success.”
Talk amongst yourselves.